EXPLORING GROWTH ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS
2023
PROGRESS
KDH MEDIA GROUP KDHNEWS.COM
BUSINESS • REAL ESTATE • EDUCATION • HEALTH CARE • MILITARY • RECREATION
KILLEEN • HARKER HEIGHTS • COPPERAS COVE • FORT HOOD & SURROUNDING CITIES
BUSINESSSERVICE SERVICEDIRECTORY DIRECTORY& INDEX & INDEX BUSINESS ATTORNEY
BEAUTY
COMMUNITY SERVICES
HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
Bustos Family Law PLLC ....13 1705 S Capital of Texas Hwy Ste. 200, Austin, TX 78746 (512) 766-2768 www.bustosfamilylaw.com
Enilsa Skin Essentials .........8 2904 E Stan Schlueter Loop Suite. E #503, KIlleen, TX 76542 (254) 628-7335 www.enilsa.co
Families in Crisis, Inc. ...... .20 1305 E Rancier Ave. Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 634-1184 www.familiesincrisis.net
Bree’s in Love Bree’s in Love CareCare............. ............. 41 41 419-1953 (254)(254) 419-1953
Law Office of Brett H Pritchard ........ .inside Front Cover 1201 S WS Young Dr Ste A, Killeen, TX, 76543 (254) 220-4225 www.brettpritchardlaw.com
AUTO SERVICE Auto Masters Repair Shop .11 206 N Gilmer St., Killeen, TX, 76541 (254) 226-3541 www.automastersrepairshoptexas.com
Bill’s Towing & Storage .....23 501 Liberty St., Killeen, TX, 76541 (254) 690-2869 www.billstowingandstorage.net
Chuck’s Garage ..................23 501 Liberty St., Killeen, TX, 76541 (254) 554-5445 www.chucks-garage.com Continental Battery ...........15 600 E Central TX Expy. Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 634-2287 www.continentalbattery.com Tow Masters.........................6 6000 S Fort Hood St, Building C, Killeen, TX, 76542 (254) 432-4011 www.towmasterstx.com
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce .......13 1 Santa Fe Plaza Drive, Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 526-9551 www.killeenchamber.com Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce ..Back Cover 552 FM 2410 A, Harker Heights, TX, 76548 (254) 699-4999 www.hhchamber.com
CHURCH Bible Way Missionary Baptist... ............................ 15 2306 S FM 116, Copperas Cove, TX, 76522 (254) 542-2153 www.biblewaymissionarybaptist.com
Harker Heights United Methodist ............. 46 208 W Cardinal Ln. Harker Heights, TX 76548 (254) 699-6271 www.hhumc.org
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Impac Outreach ..................21 (254) 598-0240 www.impacoutreach.org
EDUCATION Central Texas College ........63 6200 Central Texas Expy. Killeen, TX 76549 (254) 526-7161 www.ctcd.edu University of Mary Hardin Baylor......... ..61 900 College St. Belton, TX 76513 (254) 295-8642 www.umhb.edu
EMPLOYMENT Ajinomoto Foods... ...... inside Back Cover 601 E 3rd St., Lampasas, TX, 76550 (512) 528-7500 www.ajinomotofoods.com/careers
FUNERAL HOME Harper Talasek Funeral Home... ..................13 506 N. 38th St., Killeen, TX, 76543 (254) 699-8200 503 N. Main Ave., Belton, TX, 76513 (254) 939-2411 500 W Barton Ave, Temple, TX, 76501 (254) 773-4564 www.harpertalasek.com
https://www.facebook.com/BreesLoveInCare https://www.facebook.com/BreesLoveInCare
DECORATING HOMEHOME DECORATING & REMODELING & REMODELING Empire Pro Painting Empire Pro Painting .................. 46 46 PO155, Box Troy, 155, Troy, TX, 76579 PO Box TX, 76579 913-8069 (254)(254) 913-8069 facebook.com/empirepainting11 facebook.com/empirepainting11
HOME SERVICES HOME SERVICES Accurate Roofing ............... Accurate Roofing ............... 15 15 (888)821-1910 (888)821-1910 www.accurateroofingtexas.com www.accurateroofingtexas.com Killeen Overhead Doors......21 Killeen Overhead Doors......21 Martin Luther Jr. Blvd, 15051505 Martin Luther King King Jr. Blvd, Killeen, TX 76543 Killeen, TX 76543 690-3667 (254)(254) 690-3667 www.killeenoverheaddoors.com www.killeenoverheaddoors.com
Rinehart Rinehart RealReal Estate Inspection .............. Estate Inspection .............. 41 41 E Central 445 E445 Central TexasTexas Expy.Expy. Harker Heights, TX 76548 Harker Heights, TX 76548 690-1186 (254)(254) 690-1186 www.realestateinspection.net www.realestateinspection.net
HOSPITAL HOSPITAL Advent Health ...................54 Advent Health ...................54 S Clear 22012201 S Clear CreekCreek Rd. Rd. Killeen, TX 76549 Killeen, TX 76549 526-7523 (254)(254) 526-7523 www.adventhealthcentraltexas.com www.adventhealthcentraltexas.com
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY & INDEX INSURANCE
REC & LEISURE
Allstate Ira Brand ..............41 2312 E Hwy 190, Copperas Cove, TX, 76522 (254) 547-6300
Killeen Bowlerama ............42 922 N 38th St, Killeen, TX, 76543 (254) 699-5222 www.killeenbowlerama.com
agents.allstate.com/brand-financialservices-copperas-cove-tx.html
LANDSCAPING & NURSERY Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery ........................3 1101 US Hwy 190, Nolanville, TX, 76599 (254) 394-2189 www.hiddenfallsnursery.com
MEDICAL Connect Hearing ................55 2409 W Stan Schlueter Loop, Killeen, TX, 76549 (254) 680-4327 www.clinics.connecthearing.com
RELIGION Westside Baptist Church ...21 711 Stagecoach Rd, Killeen, TX, 76542 (254) 628-1004 www.westsideoasis.com
RENTALS Brown’s Temporary Apts. ..42 Killeen, TX 76543 (254) 634-8554 www.brownstempapts.com
Wells Laundry ......................6 315 38th St. Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 953-4977 www.wellslaundry.com
TAX PREPARATION
Killeen, TX, 76549
www.ttdbookkeepingservices.com
Hunter Rentals ................. .41
KidZ TherapEZE ................. .11 1102 Winkler Ave, Killeen, TX, 76542 (254) 634-8505
Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply .................. 19 701 E Central Texas Expy, Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 312-4300
Killeen Veterinary Clinic .... .11 1321 Pershing Dr. Killeen, TX 76549 (254) 634-0242 www.killeenvetclinic.com
Dragon Lady Tattoos ........ 46 217 W Veterans Memorial Blvd., Harker Heights, TX, 76548 (254) 699-2204 www.dragonladytattooz.com
1503 W Stan Schlueter Loop,
FMC Science ...................... .57 207 W Ave E, Lampasas, TX, 76550 (512) 556-4130 www.fmcscience.com
PET CARE & SERVICES
Carol’s Creations ............... 15 509 S 2nd St. Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 628-8788 www.carolscreationstx.com
TTD Bookkeeping .............. 61 512 2nd St., Killeen, TX, 76543 (254) 526-0111
(254) 634-3311 www.hunterrentals.com
www.kidstherapeze.com
SPECIALTY STORE
RETAIL
www.murdochs.com/stores/killeen/
Smart Way Open ............... 20 (713) 331-5548 www.smartwayopen.com
TRANSPORTATION Hill Country Transit (The HOP)......................... 20 4515 W US 190 Belton, TX 76513 (800) 791-9601 www.takethehop.com
WINERIES Stoneledge Winery. ...........9 518 CR 1403, Lometa, TX 76853 (512) 937-4252 www.stoneledgewinery.com
EXPLORE GROWTH IN CENTRAL TEXAS
2023
PROGRESS
Progress is an annual publication of KDH Media Group that focuses on the developments of the past year in the Central Texas communities the Killeen Daily Herald serves. The section also takes an in-depth look at the changes in store in the year ahead. This year’s 68-page edition includes news, information, photographs and advertisements that highlight the positive developments in Killeen and its neighboring communities of Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Nolanville, Florence and Lampasas. In addition to chronicling developments in the business sector, Progress also features news and analysis from the areas of education, military, local and county government, real estate, recreation and the medical community. The content for the 2023 Progress edition was created by staff of the Killeen Daily Herald’s editorial and advertising departments, as well as news correspondents and public information officials.
CONTACT US To subscribe to the Herald, call 254-501-7400. To advertise, call 254-501-7500. For the newsroom, call 254-501-7542. The Killeen Daily Herald is at 1809 Florence Road, Killeen, TX 76541.
Find more news coverage online at KDHnews.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/kdhnews or on Twitter at twitter.com/kdhnews.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE BUSINESS DIRECTORY...........................................4 KILLEEN BUSINESS................................................7 ROLL OF HONOR..................................................25 REAL ESTATE....................................................... 37 HARKER HEIGHTS................................................43 COPPERAS COVE..................................................47 FORT HOOD........................................................ 49 HEALTH CARE......................................................53 EDUCATION.........................................................59 RECREATION.......................................................65 6 | PROGRESS 2023
KILLEEN BUSINESS
Demolition reveals the interior of the old First National Bank building brick and tile as an excavator sweeps excess rubble from the upper level in December. The demolition is making room for a new Bell County annex building.
Bank demolished to make way for county annex BY PAUL BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
After decades on North Gray Street, the First National Bank building was demolished in December for construction of a new Bell County annex. Workers with Houston company AAR began demolishing the bank in November. In July, Bell County Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with Killeen that gives the
county shovel-ready land at 507 N. Gray St. for the construction of a more than 30,000-square-foot county government annex building within three years of receipt of the property. The demolition included removing most of the objects on the property, including parking lots, some sidewalks, curb stops, electrical devices, and gas piping, signs, bases and planters, flagpole, railing and walkways. Bell County is budgeting $10 million for the new annex building, which will
replace the county annex on Priest Drive in Killeen. The new building will house the vehicle registration office and other Bell County offices. “The former First National Bank Texas relocated its bank facilities to its new location” at 901 E. Central Texas Expressway, according to a city staff report. The new building opened on March 16. Killeen City Council members in September awarded a $618,700 bid to AAR for the project. KDHNEWS.COM I 7
Killeen council amends architectural design standards BY PAUL BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
One of the most significant changes to the city’s code of ordinances last year was when council members approved a change to new architectural and site design standards to allow flexibility in garage construction on new homes. That decision came with no discussion a week after a Killeen city official recommended no amendment to the standards — even with some council members favoring relaxing a section regulating how garages are built. “This is amending the ordinance — Section 31-903 — to basically really change the “and” to “or,” said Edwin Revell, executive director of development services, during a workshop meeting on Dec. 6. “The council on (April 26) adopted the original standards that basically ... prohibited protruding garages, or snout houses, as well as set the 50% rule in terms of the width of the garage door.” In construction of homes that include garages, Section 31-903 requires that “a garage door facing the street shall not comprise more than (50%) of the horizontal length of the front elevation and the exterior of the wall on either side of the garage door shall not protrude further than any other horizontal building plane on the front elevation.”
8 | PROGRESS 2023
The amendment to the ordinance substitutes “or” instead of “and” in Part A of that section. Part A defines the 50% rule, and Part B addresses the garage walls. “This standard is applicable only to the width of the garage door — not the entirety of the garage,” according to a staff report. The proposed amendment came after Councilman Michael Boyd on Oct. 18 made a “motion of direction” to change language in the ordinance that allows both standards to be met in garage construction instead of one of them. That request came almost six months after the council adopted the city’s new architectural and site design standards. “Staff is not recommending changes to the ordinance,” Revell said Dec. 6. “I believe there are a couple of reasons to that related to the ‘big ideas’ in the comprehensive plan.” In the staff report, officials said the amended ordinance is inconsistent with “Big Idea #5,” which provides that “streets and public spaces should be designed to prioritize walkability and human interaction over automobiles.” The 2022 comprehensive plan also calls for the city to “overhaul design and construction standards with a new focus on quality and appearance of residential and commercial buildings.” The City Council adopted the new architectural and design standards on
April 26. And on Nov. 7, Planning and Zoning commissioners in a 6-0 vote “recommended disapproval” of Boyd’s proposed amendment.
KILLEEN BUSINESS PARK
Construction of the Dongjin Semichem Texas plant in the Killeen Business Park is expected to be complete this year after council members in December approved an economic-development agreement with the company. According to Killeen Economic Development Corporation officials, construction of Dongjin Semichem Texas in Killeen was expected to begin “immediately.” Killeen EDC during the first quarter of the fiscal year secured the $70 million investment from the South Korean company. Dongjin plans to build a 91,000-square-foot plant at the Killeen Business Park — its first such facility in the United States. Production at the plant is scheduled to begin in 2024. “The company will provide patented processing chemicals for the $18 billion Samsung manufacturing facility in Taylor,” according to a news release. “The Killeen Business Park was among several sites competing for the company’s $70 million investment but chose Killeen for its available land, competitive incentive package, skilled workforce and proximity to Interstates 14 and 35.”
Construction of Dongjin Semichem continues at the Killeen Business Park in January. The 91,000-square-foot property is set to start production in 2024.
NORTH KILLEEN GROCERY STORE
About 30 people attended an informational rally in October in which Councilwoman Jessica Gonzalez, standing in front of the former H-E-B building on North Gray Street, explained how officials have not given up on efforts to bring a grocer to the area. “As we all know ... we lost two very important staples here — IGA and H-E-B,” the District 1 representative said. “It’s caused our citizens to have to travel up to 20 minutes to get to a grocery store” on Trimmier Road in Killeen, West Stan Schlueter Loop in Killeen or in Harker Heights. The H-E-B store on North Gray Street closed in October 2019, leaving a “food desert” in north Killeen. “We need to have quality food,” Gonzalez said. “Our stores also serve as economic drivers.” In August of that year, the IGA Foodliner on East Rancier Avenue closed its doors as well. While residents in that part of the city have longed for a new grocery store, efforts to bring one have produced nothing. “The council was actively engaging partnerships with local developers,” Gonzalez said. “We started out having conversations with our city manager, and the investors came down here. We showed them the city, and they loved it. But they couldn’t overcome logistics.” In early 2022, negotiations between Killeen EDC, a developer and an unnamed grocery chain to bring a new 60,000-square-foot grocery store to an
empty lot near Rancier and North 38th Street failed after a two-year effort. That large lot, where a movie theater burned down in 2004, is still vacant. Meanwhile, the owner of the North Gray Street property, Mohammed Bahrami, said a provision of his contract with H-E-B prohibits the reopening of the store as a grocer retailer for more than 50 years. “There’s a 55-year block on this particular location,” Gonzalez said. “So, we can’t establish a grocery store even if we wanted to.” As for trying to draw other grocers to the area, “they have to generate at least $1 million a week,” said Ronnie Russell of the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce. “There’s no grocery store in Nolanville or in east Temple. They need two other grocery stores (in the area) to make it work” logistically. “But we’re actively engaged to try to bring resources into the city.”
2021 that in 2015, the airport’s passenger numbers had dropped to 289,000, and the airport’s worst pre-pandemic year was 2017, when it filled 260,000 seats. That same year, Delta Airlines announced it would pull out of the Killeen airport, removing the Atlanta route and leaving just American and United to service flights to Dallas and Houston. And in January 2022, United announced its own decision to exit the airport. The resulting shortfall came in the way of three daily flights, about 100 daily seats, and the loss of connecting and one-way flights to and from Houston. “Due to current industry challenges, we expect this process to take some time,” Ford said. “We are having conversations now that could potentially materialize by the beginning of 2024. We successfully secured federal support funding to aid in our pursuit of attracting an additional air carrier or the addition of a new market. Our main focus now is to continue to work aggressively and strategically to further improve and enhance our position with targeted air carriers.”
KILLEEN-FORT HOOD REGIONAL AIRPORT
After United and Delta airlines left the Killeen market between 2015 and 2022, the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport was left with just one company — American Airlines. “We are working strategically to enhance our business case in efforts to attract a relevant targeted air carrier,” Ford said. “We continue to have meaningful discussions with American, as well as several potential operators.” The Herald reported in November KDHNEWS.COM I 9
Killeen expected to grow more than 1% annually BY PAUL BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
While Killeen’s population remains about 155,000, that number is expected to spike to roughly 200,000 over the next 17 years. “Our 2022 Comprehensive Plan is helping lead the way to more growth in our city in so many ways,” city spokeswoman Janell Ford said. “This strategic plan grows our business community, develops vibrant neighborhoods, revitalizes our historic downtown, cultivates a safe community culture and environment and ensures fiscally responsible growth.” Data from the 2020 U.S. Census shows that 30,000 people moved to Killeen over the last decade. In 2011, the population was 127,000. To manage existing growth and prepare for more, City Council members last year adopted a comprehensive plan — the efforts of which were led by consultant Kevin Shepherd of Verdunity of Dallas. While the 254-page document addresses development challenges and issues across Killeen, it focuses on redeveloping north Killeen and downtown Killeen. “The emphasis on growth to the south is the biggest reason north Killeen has declined,” Shepherd told the Herald last year. “The grocery stores and businesses left because the market was better to the south. These neighborhoods are a huge opportunity, though, because they have the street and lot layout that forms the foundation for great, walkable mixeduse neighborhoods that so many people are looking for, especially younger people who detest the suburbs and want a more affordable, gritty and walkable neighborhood.” North Killeen, which includes a major artery to Fort Hood — Rancier Avenue — went the way of downtown Killeen when crime increased in the area — particularly prostitution — in the 1970s and Killeen Mall opened in 1981. To rebuild north Killeen, the effort must begin with developing
10 | PROGRESS 2023
Katlin Kizito is Killeen’s new downtown revitalization director. Kizito said part of her job includes promoting the area, preserving its history and bringing more events to downtown.
neighborhoods, Shepherd said, not the many subdivisions that make up south Killeen. “If you build this type of neighborhood from scratch, it immediately has a very high value and demand. This needs to be done, too, in greenfield areas in south Killeen to provide some higher end housing options. But north Killeen provides an affordable, more authentic version that surrounding cities like Temple, Harker Heights, etc., will never be able to do.” North Killeen, mostly landlocked by Fort Hood, has been isolated from growth to the south — effectively abandoned to the extent that development efforts do not involve the area. But it doesn’t have to remain that way. “I’ve said throughout the plan process that there are a lot of young people in the Austin area who are looking for opportunities to buy property, build or rehab a home or building and maybe
start a business,” Shepherd has said. “This is insanely expensive to do in Austin, but is extremely affordable to do in Killeen. There needs to be a marketing effort to get the word out that Killeen is looking for these types of people.” Between 1960 and 2020, Killeen’s service area grew by 10 times, while the population only grew by 6 times. The population in 1960 was 23,377 over 6.2 square miles. In 2019, the population was 151,685 over 59.57 square miles. “Projections for the City of Killeen range from 185,000 to 203,000 in the Year 2040, which reflects an annual average growth rate of 1.1% and 1.4% respectively,” the comprehensive plan shows. The city neither annexed nor deannexed property in 2022. However, City Council members approved a voluntary annexation in January of 6.3 acres south of West Stan Schlueter Loop and east of the Eagle Valley subdivision.
KDHNEWS.COM I 11
Killeen officials focus on downtown revitalization BY PAUL BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
From awarding grant funding for businesses to redeveloping the area, Killeen officials committed financial and other resources to improving downtown over the past year. One of the most significant, perhaps, was hiring Katlin Kizito as downtown revitalization director during the summer. With an annual salary of $75,032.19, she is the first to be named to that position after it was created at the urging of consultant Kevin Shepherd of Verdunity of Dallas. That company was hired by the City Council for $349,140 in 2020 to draft a new comprehensive plan for Killeen that includes guidelines for how downtown should be redeveloped.
VACANT BUILDINGS
About four months after Kizito was hired, council members unanimously approved changes to the ordinance that governs the vacant structure registration program focused on fines assessed against non-compliant property owners. The Vacant Structure Registration ordinance was adopted by the City Council in August 2020. “The intent of the ordinance is to reduce blight, preserve the historic character, and improve property values in Downtown Killeen,” according to a staff report. “The Vacant Building Registration ordinance requires the owners of vacant buildings within the Historic Overlay District (HOD) to abide by a standard-of-care practice, register their property with the city, and pay an annual registration fee.” Property owners with unregistered vacant buildings in downtown Killeen could face fines of $2,000 a day based on changes to the ordinance. Meanwhile, council members agreed to allow the formation of an 11-member downtown advisory committee to “study, recommend and review policies, programs, and concepts (used) in other communities (that) are designed to increase the economic vitality of downtown,
12 | PROGRESS 2023
enhance the physical and visual assets, promote a positive image, showcase the unique characteristics of downtown, and create a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement and resources for downtown.”
GRANT FUNDING
A little more than $411,000 in American Rescue Plan Act and Killeen Public Facility Corporation funding and business grants remain after city officials allocated nearly $2 million for those programs. Using $150,000 in ARPA money, the city has committed that to nonprofit grant programs and $210,000 in PFC funds. For its business grant program, the city has spent $1,165,835 — bringing the total remainder of funding to $411,273 out of the $1,937,108 allocated The amount distributed to Space Create, Let’s Eat Texas, Twice as Funny, Braids and Brows by Chris, Aromas Cigar Lounge, Khaniesiology and Rincon de Panama is $965,812.
RANCIER AVENUE
Council members approved a professional services agreement with a Houston company for the preliminary design of the Rancier Avenue replacement project. “The (fiscal year 2023) capital improvement plan includes the Rancier Avenue replacement and streetscaping improvements project as an unfunded project for design,” according to a staff report. “However, the project was intended to be funded using TIRZ funding. At the (Sept. 8) TIRZ board meeting, the TIRZ Board voted 5-0 to program up to $1 million TIRZ funding for the design of (Phase 1) of the Rancier Avenue project.” TIRZ is the acronym for tax increment reinvestment zone. Municipal and county governments use tax increment financing “to pay for improvements that will draw private investment to an area,” according to the Texas comptroller’s website. It “redirects some of the (property tax) in a geographic area designated as a tax
increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) to pay for improvements in the zone.” The cost of the schematic design for the Rancier project is $813,453.73. “In addition to the TIRZ funding, the city applied for a KTMPO grant in October of 2020 for funding associated to improve the sidewalks and landscaping along Rancier Avenue,” the staff report shows. “The grant was selected and awarded $3,240,000 in construction funding that will be available in 2024.” The total project cost for the Rancier replacement, including placing overhead utilities underground, is $24 million.
CHAPARRAL ROAD
In other infrastructure projects, council members unanimously approved an interlocal agreement between Killeen, Bell County and Harker Heights after debating the merits of assuming the financial burden and responsibility for the Chaparral Road reconstruction — a $24 million project that’s expected to exceed that estimate by the time construction begins no earlier than 2025. When Chaparral High School opened in August, it was to accommodate more than 2,000 students. The new school is in a growing area, and some residents who live along or near Chaparral Road complained of not being able to access the road while hundreds of cars and school buses dropped off students during the morning commute. Expansion plans for the two-lane Chaparral Road, along Killeen’s southern border, have long been talked about with little action. Meanwhile, the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Organization, or KTMPO, will pay $17,224,578 in construction costs only. Bell County has agreed to pay no more than $3 million, with Harker Heights contributing $224,487 and Killeen paying $3,550,935. The project involves 13.28 miles but does not include a part of the road that Killeen ISD improved during the construction of Chaparral High School.
KDHNEWS.COM I 13
WCID-1 water plant serves southern Killeen BY THADDEUS IMERMAN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
A little a year after commencing operation, the Stillhouse Water Treatment Plant is disinfecting water for parts of south Killeen as the city grows. Operated by the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, the plant came online July 1, 2021. As of January 2023, the plant was processing just below 3 million gallons per day and has processed as high as more than 6 million gallons per day, according to Ricky Garrett, general manager of WCID-1. The maximum capacity of the plant is 17 million gallons per day. Though the recipients of the water are slightly different, the processes are not. The processes are the same as the Belton Water Treatment Plant on Belton Lake. “We employ what’s called conventional surface water treatment,” Garrett said in January during a tour of the plant. “We bring in water from the lake and then we disinfect it and we put it through flocculation basins ... where we add a coagulant.” Garrett explained that during this process of disinfection, the coagulant helps particles to stick together and settle at the bottom of sedimentation basins. After it is treated, water travels through the supply lines and goes to the water tower near Cunningham Road and East Stan Schlueter Loop, Garrett explained.
Ricky Garrett is the general manager of the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1.
“It services the area that was formerly served by the southeast tower on Cunningham and Stan Schlueter,” Garrett said. “What they’ve done is they’ve cordoned off a little part of that Pilot Pressure Plane that this plant helps.” A new water tower is being built near Chaparral Road and West Trimmier Road that will be the deposit point for water leaving the plant. “From there, Killeen will have options of how to direct it throughout their system,” Garrett said.
EXPANSION PLANS
WCID-1 plans to expand the capacity of the Belton Water Treatment Plant. Part of that plan would be for the Stillhouse Water Treatment Plant to
Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1’s Stillhouse Water Treatment Plant has been serving residents in south Killeen since it came online in July 2021.
14 | PROGRESS 2023
take on the treatment capacity from the Belton plant. “We’ve got four entities that need some capacity within the next 20 years,” Garrett said. WCID-1 provides treated drinking water for Killeen, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights, Nolanville and Belton. “The situation with that is that before the Stillhouse plant came online, it was impossible to expand at the Belton plant; and that’s not my opinion, that’s in the Killeen Master Plan.” The plan to expand the Belton plant is on hold, however, Garrett said. Before WCID-1 issues debt for projects, Garrett receives commitments from each customer entity’s governing body to go ahead, since each entity pays toward the debt based on how much water they receive. The problem, however, is that the Stillhouse plant is operating on borrowed time. “Once the growth in the southwest part of Killeen and this part of the county takes off and starts dominating what this plant can produce, that window of opportunity to expand the Belton plant goes away,” Garrett said. “We’ll be back where we’re not ever being able to make it bigger because we can’t without compromising service levels to customers. So, that’s the urgency side from my standpoint.
Bell County continues to grow BY EMILY HILLEY-SIERZCHULA HERALD CORRESPONDENT
There seems to be no stopping the growth spurt in Bell County, which has seen an increase in its population and budget for at least the past five years. For example, Bell County’s budget for fiscal year 2022 included expenditures in the general fund totaling $118.7 million, which was almost $9 million more than the $109.8 million in the 2021 budget. In turn, the fiscal year 2023 budget is balanced and a touch larger than the year before. It consists of revenues and expenditures of $129,576,700. Bell County Judge David Blackburn said about 60%, or $77.81 million, of the budget is used for staff costs. “The county, as many of you know, is a service-based organization so a majority of our expenses are in personnel and our general fund operating budget continues to reflect that,” he said during the first public meeting for the budget. County officials said the proposed tax rate is well below the voter approved rate — the tax rate at which the county would need to hold a vote — of 36.87 cents per $100 valuation. Officials said the new tax rate is a 5.5-cent drop from last year’s rate of 39.43 cents per $100 valuation, according to FME News Service. Not surprisingly, both population and property values are on the rise in Bell County. From 2011 to2019, Bell County’s population increased by more than 21%, according to the county’s budget presentation. In 2021, the county’s population sat at 379,619. Who can remember 1960, when just 94,000, souls called Bell County home? In the budget for fiscal year 2023, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2022, and ends on Sept. 30, income from property taxes — $65.4 million — accounts for just over half of the county’s general fund revenues budget. Sales tax revenue provides more than 26% of general fund revenue, in the county’s most recent budget. The county’s revenue history in the general fund has increased every year since at least 2018, when the county
County Judge David Blackburn leads the Bell County Commissioner’s Court in Belton.
brought in more than $92 million. The expected revenue for fiscal year 2023 is expected to be more than $128.5 million, which is an increase from the $115.7 million in fiscal year 2022. The budget for the new fiscal year lays out money for multiple projects and the hiring of many new county employees. Some of the major projects that the county will work on over the next year include the $113 million extension to the Bell County Loop Jail, which includes a minimum security addition and a mental health wing. Other projects include new county annexes in Salado and Killeen. Of the 28 new positions proposed in the budget, Blackburn said 24 are set to be in the public safety field.
KDHNEWS.COM I 15
Killeen Chamber brings back events, celebrates growth BY TANNER CARLSON SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
In 2022, the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce continued to serve the community through adversity and its own challenges. The Killeen Chamber was able to resume and even add to many programs and networking opportunities. Leadership Killeen graduated 20 people in its 2021-22 class and began its 2022-23 year in September with 18 people in the class. Leadercast Shift, an annual leadership conference broadcast to approved sites across the nation, was held in person and virtually with over 125 Killeen attendees. Leadercast Human Intelligence will be held on May 3 in 2023.
AWARD WINNERS
The Killeen Chamber held its 89th annual membership banquet on Sept. 15. The following award winners were recognized: • Roy J Smith Award — Sandra Skinner • Large Business of the Year — Heights Lumber and Supply
• Small Business of the Year — Jackson Todd & Lambert, PLLC • Nonprofit of the Year — KISD Education Foundation • Welcome Council Member of the Year — Jonathan Schaefer of Fortress Insurance Group • Greater Killeen Young Professional of the Year — Angela Matthews of the Killeen Police Department • Inaugural Community Hero Award — Kyle Moore of the Killeen Police Department
RETURNING EVENTS
The Killeen Chamber was able to bring back Flavors of Central Texas, which shows the diversity of different cultures in the local area by trying different eating establishments. In March of 2022, the Killeen Chamber eased back into the flavorful event following the pandemic, by hosting it digitally and allowing attendees to visit each participating food establishment for included incentives. Flavors is returning in 2023 as a free, in-person event in downtown Killeen on March 11. Returning in 2022 was the Greater Killeen Young Professionals, where future community leaders meet up
Scott Connell, president of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, was on hand as the host of a Legislative Day at Fort Hood in January.
16 | PROGRESS 2023
on the first Thursday of every month to network and develop possible collaborations. They are always looking for new members. The Young Professionals will host their signature event, “Rock the Foundation,” in April of 2023, where attendees will play various casino games and the proceeds go into a scholarship fundraiser benefiting students attending Texas A&M University Central-Texas. The Killeen Chamber hosts Chamber Networking and News every quarter, which gives chamber members the most efficient way to meet and connect with other business professionals. Third Thursday Mixers provide other networking opportunities where one Chamber member hosts a networking event at their place of business. The Military Relations Council resumed hosting luncheons featuring Maj. Gen. John Richardson, Maj. Gen. Richard Johnson and retired Gen. Peter Chiarelli, including a panel of speakers to discuss NATO’s response to Russian aggression.
RESEARCH PARK SUMMIT
The Chamber, in partnership with the Fort Hood Regional Economic Development Foundation, helped organize the second annual Research Park Summit that informed partners on the development of the research park at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. The Public Policy Council resumed hosting luncheons featuring Congressman August Pfluger, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan, as well as Kevin Shepherd, founder & CEO of Verdunity. The Council finished the year with a State of the Region luncheon featuring Bell County Judge David Balackburn and Killeen Mayor Debbie Nash-King. New Chamber CEO The Killeen Chamber also introduced a new CEO/president, Scott Connell, following the retirement of John Crutchfield III, who held the position for 17 years. In December, the historic building that houses the Killeen Chamber, caught fire, temporarily causing staff
The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce recently graduated over a dozen people from its 2022 Leadership Killeen course.
to work remotely from home. The building, however, was saved due to the quick response time from the Killeen Fire Department and renovations are currently underway to get the employees back in the building for their day-to-day activities. The work the Killeen Chamber does for the community has not stopped, even with employees being temporarily displaced. Business continued, and the staff gladly served the community as usual. Thank you to all members and community businesses who opened up their doors to allow the Killeen Chamber to use their facility for special meetings and events.
NEW INDUSTRY AND GROWTH
Dongjin Semichem Texas, Inc., a technology company supporting the semiconductor industry, purchased 42 acres in the Killeen Business Park. Killeen is the first U.S. location for the Korea-based company. The company makes products that will be used in the $18 billion Samsung manufacturing plant in Taylor. Dongjin will have a capital
investment of at least $70 million, creating 17 jobs with an annual average salary of $50,000. USAMM acquired a 6.3-acre site in the Killeen Business Park from the Killeen Economic Development Corporation. They currently employ 100 people. The “Armed Forces SuperStore” plans to build a new 25,000- square-foot facility on the site. Z-Modular purchased 20 acres in 2021. They developed the property in 2022. Z-Modular had 200 employees prior to the expansion and is estimated to create another 750 jobs after the expansion. Cole Engineering Services Inc. is a defense contractor that supports the Department of Defense in accelerating the implementation of advanced wireless communications. Harrington Industrial Plastics leased a facility in the Killeen Business Park to provide products to the process industrial market. Additionally, economic development efforts helped recruit the following businesses to the community: Galaxy Car Wash, Black Bear Diner, Black Rifle Coffee, Dutch Bros, Quick Trip (QT) Gas,
Murdoch’s, Pop Shelf, Taco Casa (and) Planet Fitness on Stan Schlueter Loop. The Killeen Chamber attended conferences and trade shows to market the Killeen area. These activities are done as part of recruiting commercial, retail, and industrial companies to Killeen: Fabtech Trade Show, Site Selectors Guild, SelectUSA, Texas Economic Development Council Conference, International Council of Shopping Centers (and) Consultants Connect The following individuals were nominated and approved by the Killeen City Council to serve on the Killeen Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors: Mayor Debbie Nash-King, Jessica Gonzalez (council member), Nina Cobb (council member) and Jose Guzman (Oncor and Killeen Industrial Foundation member). For a full list of activities and engagements the Killeen Chamber was involved with during 2022, or to see what future events and activities they have that you are your business could get involved with, please go to killeenchamber.com. KDHNEWS.COM I 17
Hundreds attended the IBCC Black Excellence Awards Feb. 10 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center dressed in African attire for this year’s theme.
Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce supports members BY ERIN ESKEW HERALD CORRESPONDENT
“We have been proud of the entrepreneurship community that we have,” said Ronnie Russell, president and CEO of the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce. “We have seen exponential growth in the small business community, especially the amount of Black women business owners that have been opening.” Russell noted the national upward trend of Black women starting businesses, but said he is especially excited to see growth in that demographic in Killeen. Additionally, Russell expressed gratitude for the support of local businesses and organizations. “Three of our businesses have been awarded small-business grants from the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce totaling $300k,” Russell said. With the sponsorship of Cadence Bank, Russell said the IBCC invested more than $2.5 million in local small businesses. “In addition to investing funds, Cadence Bank has facilitated more than
18 | PROGRESS 2023
$750k in bank transfers and deposits,” Russell said. “They have helped us reach actionable objectives, not just checking the box, with a mixer — but following through and pouring into the community.” Killeen’s Small Business Grant implementation is on par with larger, well-known cities like Dallas, Austin, or Houston, Russell said. “It’s a proud thing to see our council work together to want to do something for the small business community,” Russell said. Looking ahead, the IBCC has launched an expansion chamber in Temple, while maintaining its headquarters in Killeen, he said. “The small-business community is the backboard of the economy,” Russell said. “COVID hit and ice hit, and small businesses were out still helping feed people, even through difficult times.” Russell said there remains a disparity between support for IBCC and other small-business organizations, but the recent push for financial organizations to diversify their support portfolios is encouraging. “People see the Juneteenth celebration as an event, but we also use it to
crowdsource and raise capital,” Russell said. “Some businesses support us, and some don’t. I don’t worry about those who don’t support us — we celebrate our victories.” The IBCC has received over 250 new memberships this year. In addition, the chamber is sponsoring an ongoing homeless/feeding program. The chamber offers regular business education to business owners and future entrepreneurs and developed platforms for strategic marketing opportunities for small-business target markets. This summer, the chamber provided $10,000 in Juneteenth Black Business relief grants that continue to help small businesses. The chamber aids businesses to receive small-business grants from the city and the National Black Chamber of Commerce and others totaling nearly $340,000 in assistance. The IBCC’s networking efforts have connected Black-owned businesses to $2.4 million in local commercial and equipment loans. The IBCC promotes diverse cultural activities in the area celebrating freedom, family commitment and values.
KDHNEWS.COM I 19
Unemployment drops in Central Texas as area recovers from COVID pandemic BY ERIN ESKEW HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Heading into 2023, the unemployment rate has gone down almost a full percentage point across Texas compared to the previous year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While other aspects of life in Texas and across the country are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, employment in Texas is not one of them, according to Charley Ayres, director of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. “The pandemic has not impacted unemployment numbers in Central Texas,” Ayers said. “The vast majority of people in Central Texas want to work. It not only gives them purpose, but it provides them with the resources to help others and their community.” Ayers said any supplemental provisional wages from COVID-19 are gone, allowing the job economy to return to normal.
RATES FALLING
The unemployment rate in the Killeen-Temple metropolitan area was at 5% in January of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. The highest unemployment rate was recorded at 10.90%in April of 2020, while the lowest was 3.2% in April of 1999. The Texas Workforce Commission reports similar numbers. The KilleenTemple area with 4% unemployment in December of 2022, down from 4.1% in November of the same year, and 4.4% in December of 2021. Although the unemployment rate continues to decline, these numbers represent about 7,200 unemployed individuals, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. With the rise in jobs, the sectors with the greatest need for laborers are transportation and warehousing, healthcare, and retail trade, Ayers said. “Job growth, and the economy are adding more jobs than we have been able to provide workers for,” Ayres said.
20 | PROGRESS 2023
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
KILLEEN-TEMPLE January February March April May June July August September October November December
2022 5.0 4.9 4.1 3.8 4.1 4.8 4.8 4.6 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.0
2021 7.0 7.4 7.0 6.1 5.9 6.7 6.0 5.4 5.1 4.9 4.8 4.4
TEXAS January February March April May June July August September October November December
2022 4.8 4.7 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.9
2021 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.2 5.9 5.6 5.4 5.2 5.0
HELP WITH EMPLOYMENT
For those looking for employment, there are more than 300 job openings listed on the Texas Workforce Commission website. Additionally, Workforce Solutions of Central Texas has resources available for people who are struggling to find employment. “Workforce Solutions of Central Texas operates four career centers across Central Texas that can help individuals with job preparation, employability skills, and other workshops to help them in their transition,” Ayers said. “In many cases, we can provide grants for training if they would like to pursue a new career.” For more information, stop by Workforce Solutions at 300 Cheyenne Drive in Killeen, call 254-200-2000 or go to workforcesolutionsctx.com.
KDHNEWS.COM I 21
New businesses indicate growth in retail market BY THADDEUS IMERMAN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Several new businesses in Killeen and Harker Heights opened to fanfare in 2022 and the beginning of 2023, leading chamber of commerce officials to say the retail market is strong. “Sales tax receipts are increasing and new retail outlets are opening in the city,” said Scott Connell, president and CEO of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. Connell took over for longtime Chamber president John Crutchfield on Sept. 1. In his five-plus months on the job, Connell said the retail growth in Killeen is visible. “In the short time I have been working in Killeen, we have seen new retail establishments opening in previously vacant spaces,” Connell said in an email to the Herald in February. One such store, Murdoch’s, opened to the public Oct. 4 and celebrated with a grand opening in November. Murdoch’s is a national Montanabased feed and tractor supply store. It sells everything from yard equipment like work gloves and string trimmers to hunting gear, ammunition and clothing on a 52,000-square-foot property. Murdoch’s occupies the building constructed specifically about eight years ago for Gander Mtn. — another outdoor supply retailer. Since the original occupant’s departure, the building at 701 E. Central Texas Expressway had been the temporary location for stores such as Spirit Halloween and Overstock. On Nov. 18, the store held its grandopening ceremony, showering earlyarriving shoppers with gifts from the store. At the ceremony, Regional Manager Bridget Fox said Murdoch’s prides itself on partnering with communities. As such, the Killeen store partnered with and raised money for 4-H, The Boys and Girls Club of Killeen, and the Killeen Police Department. Another new addition to the area business scene is Elder Mitsubhi, an auto dealership on East Central Texas
22 | PROGRESS 2023
Construction is underway on a Chuy’s Tex-Mex restaurant on Central Texas Expressway.
Expressway in Killeen. The dealership opened its doors last summer and recently added electronic signage distinctive to the brand. Connell told the Herald there is another trend he has noticed since he started. “Additionally, we are seeing several new restaurants and retailers opening in the Clear Creek Drive corridor,” he said. In the past year, several new establishments opened along Clear Creek, including QuikTrip, Black Rifle Coffee Company and HTeaO. Dozens of people attended the grand opening for HTeaO, the tea, snack and merchandise shop. At HTeaO, customers can sample one of a large number of flavors before checking out. The tea chain charges by the cup, rather than the flavor, so customers can mix and match their drinks. According to Connell, sales tax receipts from the Texas Comptroller’s Office indicate that the retail market in Killeen is strong. From March 2022 through February 2023, Killeen has received a total of $34,021,235.89. From March 2021 through February 2022, Killeen received $32,298,788.93 in sales tax revenue from the state. These numbers represent an
increase of 5.33%. Several factors play a part in the increase, including inflation. Connell explained how he feels inflation has impacted Killeen. “Inflation has impacted all elements of daily life,” he said. “In some cases it is positive for higher wages. However, the cost of almost all goods and services have increased and that impacts the spending power of every household. “We are fortunate to see the sales tax allocations increase with these pressures on the consumer. It goes to the general growth in the market.” Looking ahead to 2023, Connell said he expects more of the same from the city’s retail market. “We anticipate another steady growth year for 2023,” he said. “There continues to be construction of new retail outlets throughout Killeen. Housing construction is strong, which is a positive driver of retail goods particularly home goods. “Additionally, there is growth throughout the region. Killeen benefits as a regional retail center for our entire metropolitan region and adjacent counties.”
HARKER HEIGHTS
In Harker Heights, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gina
Pence, said the business climate is flourishing. Three of the top five industries in the city, according to Pence, are health care, retail business and food service. As with Killeen, Harker Heights saw noteworthy new businesses in two such industries. Opening in 2022 were Dutch Bros Coffee and Black Bear Diner. The California-based Black Bear Diner opened in December 2022. According to the store’s manager, Anatolio Trinidad, the food is homecooked, comfort and classic American food. The Black Bear Diner is in the building that previously housed Richard Rawlings’ Garage on Central Texas Expressway. Dutch Bros had its grand opening on Nov. 30. The coffee, smoothie and iced drink provider, headquartered in Oregon, also has two locations in Killeen. Still in the works, two businesses look to open soon. Making progress, ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Harker Heights is going up between Seton Medical Center and Sam’s Club. The new facility at 760 W. Central
Murdoch’s opened in October in Killeen, filling the space vacated when Gander Mtn. closed.
Texas Expressway is expected to open its doors next year to about 650 patients annually who are living with disabling injuries or illnesses such as strokes, brain injuries, hip fractures and spinal injuries. Some features of the new rehab hospital include private rooms, a rehabilitative gym, a dining room, and the ability to allow patients to receive treatment in rooms that echo the
conditions of the home. Also being constructed nearby is Chuy’s Tex-Mex restaurant. Founded in Austin in 1982, Chuy’s owns and operates full-service restaurants across 17 states, according to the chain’s website. “Each location offers a unique, ‘unchained’ look and feel, as expressed by the concept’s motto ‘If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s!’”
KDHNEWS.COM I 23
Herald offers timely, accurate news for readers BY DAVE MILLER KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Whether it’s in a traditional print format, video, social media or a combination of platforms, the Killeen Daily Herald has the news and information its readers and viewers need to stay on top of a changing world. The news organization, which has been in existence for nearly 133 years, has evolved from a small weekly publication to an award-winning multimedia company that reaches readers around the world. From municipal budgets to school board policy decisions and important military developments, the Herald prides itself in providing the kind of in-depth reporting that explores and explains the issues impacting Killeenarea residents on a daily basis. The Herald also offers comprehensive coverage of local political races — from candidate videos, issue-oriented, side-byside candidate comparisons, campaign finance reporting and coverage of events from the campaign trail. Candidate bios, video interviews, Q&As and updated information on local races of interest can be found at the Herald’s politics site, KDHnews. com/centerforpolitics. The Herald is helping to shape and encourage the political dialogue as well, sponsoring a moderated candidate forum for Killeen City Council candidates on Feb. 27. KDH News also has put more emphasis on its digital platforms with expanded video coverage, providing on-scene video reporting at events and breaking news scenes across the community. The Herald gives viewers a look inside City Hall with its weekly Facebook Live coverage of Killeen City Council meetings, as well as a one-onone video wrapup with the city’s mayor following each council meeting. At the end of 2022, the Herald had recorded more than 15.8 million page views for the year — an average of nearly 1.3 million viewers per month.
ENGAGING COMMUNITY
As part of the multifaceted KDH
24 | PROGRESS 2023
Media Group, the Herald continues to serve the fast-growing Central Texas community with an award-winning daily newspaper and several weekly publications, as well as online at kdhnews.com and on social media. In addition, FME News Service — a joint collaboration of the Herald and its sister paper, the Temple Daily Telegram — brings readers a broader spectrum of news, sports and information spanning the coverage areas of both publications. The Herald highly values reader engagement, offering a weekly online opinion poll, encouraging readercontributed videos and photos, and providing live-streaming of selected news and sporting events via Facebook Live and Twitter. The Herald’s news app gives users instant access to its online offerings via their phone, tablet or other mobile device. The app can be downloaded for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play. The Herald also offers a free text alert system, providing readers with the latest breaking news via text message to their mobile device.
JOURNALISM AWARDS
The Herald’s commitment to timely, thorough and accurate reporting of local, regional and state news has earned an array of prestigious journalism awards in recent years. The Herald has been recognized as Newspaper of the Year for its circulation category three times since 2011 by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors. Last summer, the Herald was recognized with 18 Texas APME awards, including two first-place efforts, in a variety of categories. The paper’s coverage of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 won first place in the Community Service category. The Killeen Daily Herald also was awarded second-place honors in Team Effort for its ongoing coverage of the city’s water outage in October 2021 after a water quality report highlighted unsafe levels of chlorine in Killeen’s drinking water. The Herald also was recognized for opinion writing, column
writing, photography, graphic design and page design. Last year’s Texas APME honors give the paper more than 100 awards from the organization since 2015.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
The Herald also produces three weekly publications — the Fort Hood Herald, the Copperas Cove Herald and the Harker Heights Herald — to better serve specific audiences in the community. The Fort Hood Herald has connected with readers with two new weekly features — one that profiles military veterans in the area, and another called Unsung Heroes, which honors the men and women who serve alongside their military spouses during their military careers. In conjunction with the Temple Daily Telegram, the Herald also publishes a regional magazine called Tex Appeal. Now entering its 11th year, the highgloss publication features profiles of individuals, groups and businesses that make an impact in their communities. As the Central Texas community continues to grow and evolve, the Herald has done the same. The publication has come a long way since its founding in 1890 as a weekly newspaper serving a small cottonfarming town — well before the arrival of Camp Hood in 1942. In the more than eight decades since the military changed the face and future of the community, the Killeen area has changed dramatically, and the Herald has grown and changed along with it, keeping pace with the needs of the growing region. “It is exciting to be a part of the growth and development of our area,” said Sue Mayborn, the Herald’s editor and publisher for the past 36 years. “We take very seriously our role and responsibility of being a credible news source. Through our in-depth news coverage and our strong emphasis on local news, we continue to strive to give our readers the information they need to make informative decisions on matters affecting their lives.”
178
112
Chartered in 1845 900 College St Belton, TX (254)295 UMHB www.umhb.edu
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! @UMHB
70
69
68
KDHNEWS.COM I 25
66
65
60
54
26 | PROGRESS 2023
54
51
51
46
44
Commercial Inspections Backflow Testing • Home Inspections WDI Termite • Phase Inspections Steven E. Rinehart ICC Master Code Professional PO Box 2436 Harker Heights, TX 76548 Office: Offi ce: 254.690.1186 office@rinehartinspectionservice.com www.realestateinspection.net
KDHNEWS.COM I 27
43
38 Thank You to all our valued customers for your business
R.K. BASS ELECTRIC 1200 E. FM 2410 Harker Heights
698-8751 28 | PROGRESS 2023
37
36
36
COMPLETE PAINT & BODY
621 S. 2nd St. Killeen, Texas 76542
254-526-2777
36
35
35
35
34
KDHNEWS.COM I 29
32
28
30 | PROGRESS 2023
28
27
25
25+
25
24
23
22
22
KDHNEWS.COM I 31
21
21
20
20
21
19
18
32 | PROGRESS 2023
21
13
15
13
12
12
KDHNEWS.COM I 33
11
10
10
8
34 | PROGRESS 2023
8
8
5
4
5
4
KDHNEWS.COM I 35
1
36 | PROGRESS 2023
1
1
REAL ESTATE
Construction is underway on Station42, a new apartment complex in north Killeen. Leasing will open this spring, with full completion on the site in 2024.
North Killeen apartments set to open this summer BY PAUL BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
A north Killeen apartment community remains on schedule to open this summer near Conder Park for low-income tenants. Station42, previously called Robinson42, at 801 S. W. S. Young Drive, is expected to begin leasing apartments this spring, according to NRP Group, the company building the property. The $51 million project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2024. “Project is (at) approximately 34% construction completion,” city spokeswoman Janell Ford said. “Concrete slabs are 100% poured. Retaining Walls are 100% complete, and Buildings 1, 4 and 6 are framed to the third floor. Roof trusses are currently being delivered and installed. Buildings
5 and 7 are framed to the second floor.” Station42 will feature a club room, pool, fitness center, private garages and a dog park. NRP’s new development, the 368-unit, mixed-income multifamily project is in partnership with Killeen’s Public Facility Corporation, comprised of Killeen City Council members, J.P. Morgan and Texas Capital Banks. “The clubhouse and Building 4 are due to be completed by the beginning of summer,” Ford said. “Buildings 1-3 are due to be done by mid summer. Buildings 5-7 are due to be done by the end of summer.” Fifty percent of the units will be reserved for residents receiving less than 80 percent of the area median income. As a joint venture between PFC and NRP Group, the developer is not obligated to pay property taxes during
its 75-year lease. The PFC will own the 26.5-acre property where the apartment complex is built. NRP is the leaseholder and operations, maintenance and collection of monthly rent would be the responsibility of NRP. It is the first such arrangement in the city’s history, with the PFC created solely to accommodate the mixed-income apartment community. And after the contract was closed, NRP Group paid the city $350,000 in closing fees and $85,000 to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for improvements to Conder Park, adjacent to Station42. Additionally, starting in the fourth year after the project’s completion, the agreement calls for the city to receive more than $100,000 per year via cash flow from carried-interest amounts. KDHNEWS.COM I 37
Property tax rates holding steady in Bell County BY ERIN ESKEW HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Property tax rates are not expected to change in the coming year, according to a report issued on Bell County’s official page. A complex formula determines the property tax owed on any individual property, rather than a simple tax rate such as income or sales tax. Compared to the 12 surrounding counties, Bell County has the lowest tax rates at 33.93 cents per $100 valuation, the report by Bell County Commissioners stated. The county’s budget for the 2022 year was 39.43 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed budget for 2023 drops the tax rate to 33.93 cents per $100 valuation. Considering $219,528 average taxable home value, if the appraised value remains the same, the property owner would see a decrease in their annual county tax bill of about $120.74, according to the report by the county. The proposed rate for 2023 continues a trend of decreasing rates from the fiscal year 2013. In 2013, the tax rate of 45.11 cents held steady until the fiscal year 2019, when it started a steady decline. Just a decade later, the rate proposed for the year 2023 has dropped more than 10 cents per $100 valuation. The average yearly property tax paid by Bell County residents is about 3.4% of their annual income, according to an online tracker at tax-rates.org. Bell county is ranked 414 of 3,143 counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. King County has the highest property tax rates in the state with an average of about 1.56% of median home values, compared to Terrell County which reports the lowest property tax with 0.67% of median home value per year.
38 | PROGRESS 2023
KILLEEN HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK: JANUARY 2023
BELL COUNTY HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK: JANUARY 2023
New homes are under construction in Cedarbrook Ridge in Harker Heights. The median price of a home in the city was about $300,000 in December.
Housing market slows, but median home prices rise BY ERIN ESKEW HERALD CORRESPONDENT
The housing market across Central Texas finished the year a bit slower than the close of 2021, according data collected by the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors. The median price of a home rose about 3.7% over the previous year to $333k in December. Sales in December were 30.6% lower than the same month last year, with 24,839 homes sold. Housing inventory is at 2.7 months, with 82,468 active listings at the close of the year. This is about 97.7% higher than the close of 2021, FHAA data shows. Homes in Texas remained on the market for 57 days in December, compared to 32 days at the close of 2021. The availability of building materials adversely affected the new housing market, according to FHAA executive Michael DeHart. “Listings are staying on the market slightly longer,” DeHart said. “With the exception of 2018, the Killeen market shows less time on market than the state average.”
KILLEEN
Killeen has shown a 6.3% increase in the median price of homes over the course of 2022, according to data released by the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors. The median price of homes is currently listed at $220k. However the inventory has increased to about 1.5 months’ worth of inventory, compared to 1 month inventory at the end of 2021. With 167 homes sold in December, sales were down about 45.1% from the previous year. At the close of the year, 349 active listings remained on the market, which is 193.3% higher than at the close of 2021. Homes in Killeen remained on the market an average of 54 days in December, which is about a month longer than December of 2021.
HARKER HEIGHTS
The median price of a home in Harker Heights was about $300k in December of 2022, which is about 9.1% higher than the same time in 2021, the FHAA reports. Only 35 homes sold in the month of December, which is 16.7% lower than December of 2021. Seventy-nine listings actively
remained on the market at the close of the year, which is 276.2% higher than the previous December. At the close of the year, homes were staying on the market an average of 62 days, which is 39 days longer than the average in December 2021. At year’s end, Harker Heights’ housing market had 1.5 months’ inventory, compared to 0.3 months reported in December of 2021.
COPPERAS COVE
As of the end of 2022, the median price for a home in Copperas Cove was $215k, up 14.4% over December of 2021, according to the FHAA. The 55 sales closed in December mark a 26.7% decrease from the same period last year. Copperas Cove increased active listings by 278.6% to 106 listings at the close of 2021. At the close of December, the housing market in Copperas Cove had 1.6 months of inventory, which is up from 0.4% at the close of 2021. Houses in Copperas Cove were staying on the market an average of 40 days, which is 19 days longer than the close of 2021. KDHNEWS.COM I 39
New businesses, houses go up across Central Texas BY THADDEUS IMERMAN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove continue to grow as people move into the Central Texas area. Each city’s permit data sheds light on just how much growth is happening. In 2021, Killeen issued 567 permits for new residential construction, including single-family homes and duplexes. Of the total, 497 were for single-family homes, and 70 were for duplexes. The city also issued 40 permits for new commercial construction, totaling $33,737,750 in construction value. The permits ranged from eating establishments, to retail centers, to beverage establishments and a car wash. Two notable permits issued in February 2022 by the city of Killeen were for Taco Casa, 3201 W. Stan Schlueter Loop, and Black Rifle Coffee Company, 2170 Clear Creek Road. Taco Casa opened in November 2022, while Black Rifle Coffee Company opened in August. In March 2022, the city issued a permit for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 1103 S. Fort Hood St. The smoothie shop opened in September 2022. Another notable permit issued was for a complete reconstruction of Jack in the Box at 3201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. The demolition of the existing location drew attention from many Herald readers. Construction has
Crews work on a new hotel under construction on Florence Road near Lowe’s Boulevard in Killeen.
already begun on the new building in the same location. Finally, in December, the city issued a permit for Patriots Car Wash at 5500 E. Central Texas Expressway.
HARKER HEIGHTS
Harker Heights issued six permits for new commercial construction and 76 permits for new residential construction in 2022. Two of the commercial permits are for projects that are near one another. They include the ClearSky Health
Rehab Hospital at 760 W. Central Texas Expressway and Chuy’s Tex-Mex at 700 W. Central Texas Expressway. ClearSky will have capacity for 650 patients annually who are living with disabling injuries or illnesses such as strokes, brain injuries, hip fractures and spinal injuries. It is expected to open in the spring of 2023. Ground broke on the facility in March 2022. The foundation for Chuy’s was poured in January 2023. In July, the city issued a permit for Dutch Bros Coffee at 650 E. Farm-toMarket 2410. The coffee shop opened in November 2022.
COPPERAS COVE
New single-family homes are under construction along Bunny Trail in Killeen.
40 | PROGRESS 2023
In Copperas Cove, from January to December 2022, there were a total of 318 permits issued for new residential construction. The city also issued a total of three permits for new commercial construction and a plethora more for commercial improvements or additions. One of the new commercial permits was for the Career, Technology and Engineering building at the high school. Construction of that building began in September, and it should be ready for students in the upcoming school year.
KDHNEWS.COM I 41
Sales tax collections in the region provide millions in revenue BY EMILY HILLEY-SIERZCHULA HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Property taxes might get most of the attention, as folks pile into the Bell County Appraisal District office every year to protest the value placed upon their homes. However, sales taxes are just as important when it comes to filling local coffers. In the budget for fiscal year 2023, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2022, just over half of Bell County’s general fund revenues are projected to come from property taxes. Sales tax revenue provides more than 26% of general fund revenue, to the tune of more than $33.5 million. That’s an increase when compared to fiscal year 2021, when more than $27.6 million of revenue in the general fund came from sales taxes, according to a county budget presentation. So, how do local municipalities fit into the picture? Most of Central Texas continued to exhibit solid economic growth and stability, according to a news release from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, earlier this year. Bell and Milam counties, as well as almost all of the municipalities in those counties and Coryell County, reported
42 | PROGRESS 2023
QuikTrip on Stan Schlueter Loop is one of several new businesses driving up sales tax collections in Killeen.
increases in January of 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Several tallied double-digit percentage point increases. The county will receive $2.65 million in sales tax allocations in January, an increase of 7.95% from last year, according to the release. Killeen is expected to receive about $2.68 million in sales tax revenue, a 3.02% increase. Harker Heights will receive $870,912, an 8.75% increase. Nolanville is receiving $146,136, an 11.94% increase.
HARKER HEIGHTS Harker Heights resumes many services in 2022 BY JERRY BARK SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Entering a post-pandemic period, 2022 and 2023 are bringing new challenges such as employee recruitment, employee retention, inflation, and supply line shortages and delays. The City of Harker Heights continues to be agile to accommodate for these issues with the end goal always being fulfilling the city’s stated vision: Providing public services that empower people to focus on what matters most: Their goals, hopes and dreams. The City programs and events began to pick up in 2022. It starts with the Harker Heights Parks & Recreation and the Stewart C. Meyer Public Library programming back in full swing with multiple activities being offered to residents. The Senior program is back to normal programming at the Recreation Center, 305 Miller’s Crossing. All street projects were completed from the Winter Storm of 2021 with the exception of the Wildewood Drive project. The delay and unanticipated circumstances had a domino effect on the street project. The inability to receive the required materials caused the delay and lag in work. The project is anticipated to be completed before the summer of 2023. The west-to-east turnaround bridge on the east side of Farm-to-Market 2410 was completed and is in full use. The City Council approved the wastewater impact fee study. The study will assist in the development and implementation of specific capital improvements. The citizen public survey was completed in 2022 and it will enable council members to make decisions
Work on the Farm-to-Market 2410 turnaround bridge was completed during 2022.
regarding current and future budget priorities. The council also approved a governance manual to support and establish rules governing how their business will be managed.
ON THE 2023 HORIZON
Council elections will take place in May for the appointment of a new mayor and council member for Place 4. There will also be a special election on the ballot in May. This seat will be for the one-year unexpired term of Place 2. Councilman Michael Blomquist has relinquished his seat and will run for the vacant Harker Heights mayor seat. Election information can be found at https://harkerheights.gov/index.php/ elections/may-6-2023-elections The city has implemented new “City Spotlight” tab on its webpage. It includes sections such as, the Stay Informed and City Information Portal. Residents are encouraged to sign
up to receive important and timely information at www.harkerheights.gov The FY 2023 budget proposes $15,663,300 in capital projects that are new as well as carryover projects. Some of the major projects include the Drainage Master Plan #2, Phases #2, #3, and #4 and 2023 Annual Street Improvements. Each city department sets aside objectives for FY 2023. Here are a few: • Establish a program to assist with the homeless population. • Update various ordinances • Expand the My Government Online software to include business registration. • Update sections of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the Mobility 2030 document • Enhance network and security with new technology. • Develop opportunities for public input on programs, facilities, and enhancements. KDHNEWS.COM I 43
Many distinguished guests were on hand at the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce Banquet in February.
Heights Chamber advocates for area businesses BY GINA PENCE SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
The Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce is a vital part of the ongoing growth that is taking place here in the Bell County area. The chamber is focused on collaborating with our community partners to enhance the economic vitality of our members and the quality of life in Harker Heights. With a population of over 34,000, Harker Heights is home to young professionals, veterans, retirees, entrepreneurs, and small to large businesses, each with its own unique flavor and outstanding characteristics. A recent study identifies Harker Heights as one of the fastest-growing cities in Bell County with a median household income $75,526 which is 30% greater than Bell County and is the single most diverse city in the county. Team Harker Heights is proud to share our most recent accolades for our city: Music Friendly Community, Best Places to Live in Bell County, Best Places to Raise a Family in Bell County, Most Diverse Place to Live in Bell County, Best Small Cities in America, Tree City USA, and honored to be designated as a Purple Heart City. Our local business climate is
44 | PROGRESS 2023
flourishing from the ground up. At the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce, we are proud to partner in this success ensuring that Harker Heights is the foremost location for economic development and business prosperity. 2023 continues to bring new growth and expansion to Harker Heights, to learn more about the new businesses visit www.hhchamber.com. At the Harker Heights Chamber, you can meet the premier business leaders in Bell County and have access to a multitude of opportunities to network, further your career, hear success stories, stay up to date on community/ industry news and socialize.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY
The Harker Heights Chamber is a catalyst between business and community for achievement. As the voice of business in our community, the Chamber strives to understand the legislative issues important to our members. Key to this effort is building and maintaining strong relationships with our local, state, and federal elected officials. The Harker Heights Chamber has diligently fulfilled its mission as the advocate for business excellence in Bell County. We create, enhance,
and promote the thriving economic environment in which we work and live. Whether it is through the Tourism Division, Education, Governmental Relations, Community Resources, Business and Professional Development, Economic Development, Healthcare or Members Services we bring value to our members. Graduates of our Vision XXI Leadership program are serving in leadership positions throughout our community. The Leadership course builds organizational effectiveness within our philanthropic community. High school students have the unique opportunity to experience how volunteerism and philanthropy coexist to serve the community in our Vision XXI Leadership program. Through the Harker Heights Chamber Visitor’s Center, we provide our visitors and new residents resources that highlight the great amenities and attractions in the community. At your Chamber, we work hard to provide real benefits for you and your employees, and we hope you will continue to join us in making our community a great place to live, work and play. GINA PENCE is CEO and President of the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce.
Nolanville plans for improvements, growth in 2023 BY JENNIFER SHIDLER SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
2022 was one of Nolanville’s busiest years yet and The City worked hard to bring about change on a large but intimate level. We continue to build the framework to be a beautiful, safe, and inviting community and because of that, revitalization, and innovation on the agenda for 2023.
INNOVATION
Nolanville is no stranger to embracing ever-changing technology, and the latest City-wide projects easily reflect that. This spring, the City unveiled a ‘smart’ trash that reports back to the City officials when the station is reaching capacity and needs to be collected by the Public Works Department. The technology helps minimize how often crews are sent over to collect waste, which will help utilize our labor force in other areas of the City, not to mention saving us on unneeded use of our trucks and fuel. Nolanville recently installed an electric vehicle charging station for public use. This project gives the community access to sustainable electric charging and helps prepare the city for a shift to an electric fleet. We proudly released the “My Nolanville” App this past spring. It provides officials with a centralized management system to manage and rectify issues from creation to resolution, with the ability to engage residents throughout the entire process. The JW Sims Community Center is receiving a much-needed renovation that will bring the building out of the ’80s and into the future while adding many elements of recreation, training, and education to the community. The currently dubbed ‘SMART Museum’ will provide a resource library, exhibit space, podcasting rooms, and virtual reality rooms for recreational use and career and developmental training. The upgrades, which have a May anticipated completion date, will be a focal point for the City and Central Texas.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The city has worked hard to connect all our neighborhoods to outdoor hub spaces this past year. We completed sidewalk, crosswalk, and bike path projects along Avenue H. Over 20 trees were planted with the help of area High School students, and neighborhood gateway signs were added to give residents a sense of pride and place. These projects have added a beautiful, cohesive touch to our roadways and have fulfilled their intended purpose of connecting people and places.
Park. Because of this grant, a new playground with a pavilion, skate park, solar lighting, and fresh landscaping will be installed this year. Other Park elements installed this past year included a mini-pitch soccer field and improved ADA access for workout equipment around our walking track at Monarch Park. Our residents breathed a sigh of relief as long-awaited public restrooms and concession stands were recently installed.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
As of July 4, the lights at night got big and bright in the heart of Nolanville as the long-awaited Wonderpass project was switched on for the first time. Located at Interstate 14 and Main Street, the new light display has transformed a once-dark space into a vibrant, accessible path connecting both sides of Nolanville. The lights provide indirect lighting for the pillars of the overpass and lining the ceiling to create a multi-light effect that can be controlled remotely from City Hall.
Business growth is an equally important aspect of Nolanville’s economy and future growth. With that future in mind, the Nolanville Economic Development Corporation passed several project resolutions to keep our momentum going. City Council has also supported several projects by adopting regulations to streamline business growth in the area. New to Nolanville, Brian O’Connor was hired as the director of the Nolanville EDC and is helping to guide the city into the next stages of development and innovation with new businesses, a public art program, and the creation of a downtown district.
PARK AND ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS
QUALITY OF LIFE OUTREACH
WONDERPASS
Master Park planning is currently a large area of focus, and Nolanville continues to build on the quality of life of its residents when it comes to physical recreation and outdoor spaces. Planning and execution will be made easier after being awarded two grants recently. We were awarded the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Clean Water Act 319 (h) grant, which will go a long way in helping to provide funding to support the City’s “Nolan Creek Matters” program. Program goals are to help promote the health and well-being of Nolan Creek, to help fund enhancements on important roadside channels, and to allow the city to enhance its promotion of Nolan Creek and opportunities for recreation. A $150,000 small community grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife will go towards providing upgrades to Fox
Quality of Life highlights from this year included coordinating Special Transit Services with The HOP for our City’s most vulnerable residents. These Special Transit Services work with our already established Endeav Ride program and continue to get our residents to the essential appointments and services they need. Nolanville recently formed a Stable Housing Advisory Committee comprised of people across Central Texas. This advisory committee’s goal is to help develop a strategy to address homelessness or those who could be on the verge of homelessness in the community by implementing assistance programs and connecting people with helpful resources. JENNIFER SHIDLER is Community Outreach Coordinator for the city of Nolanville. KDHNEWS.COM I 45
Florence braces for growth BY EMILY HILLEY-SIERZCHULA HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Florence — a small town in the northwest corner of Williamson County — welcomes new residents and businesses as it keeps on growing. “We expect to see more growth in the months ahead,” said Mayor Mary Condon, who has been serving the city since 1995. “The Nightingale subdivision, which will bring 388 new homes within the city limits, is close to receiving approval on their preliminary plat.” According to the Florence Chamber of Commerce, the city has welcomed a new coffee shop and a beer market. On the horizon is a café and bakery, a gift shop and a retail store. “Florence continues to offer visitors a destination shopping experience with new restaurants and retail businesses to satisfy their every need, and without the traffic frustrations and long lines encountered in nearby cities,” said Florence Chamber of Commerce President Peggy Morse. The six-member city council has a few new faces since the municipal election last year as Denise Deichmann and Amy Hansson were elected into city leadership. The rest of the council consists of Mayor Pro Tem Debra Bartos Cahill, who has been on the council since 2006; Lesa Ragsdale, alderwoman since 2012; and Kory Woolverton, whose most recent term on the council began in 2021. Up for election in May are the seats of Deichmann, Ragsdale and Woolverton.
FLORENCE ISD
Florence ISD will be welcoming a new superintendent later this year. “Paul Michalewicz announced his retirement from education last fall,” said Interim Superintendent Keith Boles. “The Board is in the process of interviewing candidates and hope to name a lone finalist sometime during the week of February 13.” The new superintendent will be in charge of managing a myriad of projects at the growing district.
46 | PROGRESS 2023
Florence’s Angel Parra competes in the 3,200-meter run during the Region III-3A Meet at Waco Midway High School in Hewitt.
To pay for many of the projects, the district is using $970,680, in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that were authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. “FISD has utilized ESSER funds to help address ongoing challenges brought on by COVID-19,” Boles said. “The district has added instructional coaches to support teachers in the classroom as well as adding an elementary mental health counselor and an at-risk interventionist at the high school. HVAC units with air purification are scheduled to be installed at the middle school campus over spring break.” Florence families can expect to see projects continue into the future. “Last year we passed a $49 million total bond package for a new elementary school, new band hall at the high school campus, and a new field house at the high school campus,” said Edward Navarette, president of the FISD Board of Trustees. “We are planning for the future and the future is bright for FISD. Growth is on our doorsteps from multiple sides of the district as the Austin and Killeen areas continue to grow.”
COPPERAS COVE Some new leaders will guide Copperas Cove in 2023 BY THADDEUS IMERMAN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
The city of Copperas Cove entered 2023 with a host of new leaders — both at the city level as well as in elected positions. The new leaders are in place to guide the city as it moves forward.
CITY COUNCIL
Some of the leadership changes occurred in the city council, with two new council members being elected on Nov. 8, 2022. On Dec. 6, 2022, Councilmen John Hale and Manuel “Monty” Montanez were sworn into their Place 4 and Place 5 seats, respectively. Hale defeated challenger Edith Natividad on Nov. 8 and filled the seat vacated by Jay Manning, who was termlimited and could not seek reelection. Montanez ran unopposed to fill the seat vacated by Dianne Campbell. The Army spouse originally filed for reelection but resigned her campaign and backed out of the race shortly after the filing period ended. Later in December, Councilman Shawn Alzona was sworn into the council for his first full term. He ran unopposed in 2022 after having won a special election in 2021 to fill an unexpired term. On Jan. 3, council members then Councilwoman Joann Courtland to serve as mayor pro-tem. She has mayoral authority in the absence of Mayor Dan Yancey.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Economic Development Corporation Director Fred Welch stepped into his role on Feb. 28, 2022.
A drainage project is underway along Business 190 in Copperas Cove.
Welch had been involved in economic development for close to 30 years in Texas prior to coming to Copperas Cove. Most recently, he had served The Greater Houston Partnership as Senior Director for Economic Development. Previous positions include The Economic Alliance for the Houston Port Region and The Greater Conroe Economic Development Council. Since Welch’s arrival, the EDC has been busy, including moving locations to 207 S. Third St. Recently, the EDC hired a communications specialist to assist with development of the corporation’s newsletter, social media content, etc. Staff has also been engaged in small business and entrepreneurial development, including a new series
of training events has kicked off for students through the Oscar’s Market project. EDC staff also attended a marketing event in Dallas with International Council of Shopping Centers attended by over 3,000 people. Staff had the intent of beginning the process of developing relationships with developers and retailers who might have an interest in locating to Copperas Cove. The EDC has the city and the Chamber of Commerce with outreach to potential retail interests especially in sit-down restaurants, grocery stores and professional services. Dirt could also begin to turn at The Narrows Business and Technology Park by the end of 2023. Continued on page 48 KDHNEWS.COM I 47
Lampasas starts new projects as population expands BY JANA LYNN KILCREASE KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Lampasas has experienced population growth of 9.2% since 2010, surging from 6,681 residents to 7,297 residents in 2020. According to Stacey Ybarra the city’s new EDC director, “The City of Lampasas’ growth continues to outpace Lampasas County’s population growth, where the city accounts for 33.7 percent of the county’s population.” During 2022, the City of Lampasas had a total of 32 new residential building permits and 11 new commercial building permits. “Those new permits included the construction of storage facilities, a Starbucks and skate park and church additions,” Ybarra said. “The city anticipates additional residential development with the approval of three sub-divisions in 2022.” The City’s Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2019. By combining the efforts of community leaders, stakeholders and residents strong progress was made in 2022 implementing the plan’s desired vision, goals and objectives. The city prioritized and initiated projects, improving the quality of life for residents and to make Lampasas
From page 47 The EDC sold about 16 acres of land to a development group in late August to allow for development of some speculative space for warehouse and/ or light manufacturing. Plans are going forward with them to get the first building started later this year. The corner of Old Copperas Cove Road and RGIII is under an option for purchase to develop a convenience store, and the EDC has several leads and one project it is pursuing for additional development in the park.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The search for a new Chamber of Commerce president is ongoing. Silvia Spires, who took over in the position in July 2021, resigned the post
48 | PROGRESS 2023
Hostess House is one of a number of historical landmarks in Lampasas.
a destination for visitors, including a new Campbell Park Pavilion, new skate park and the renovation of the historic Hostess House. The construction of the Campbell Park Pavilion, the skate park pad and the Hostess House design plans were completed in 2022. The Campbell Park Pavilion, adjacent to the city’s sculpture garden, includes electricity and lighting for events and gatherings and can accommodate groups up to 150. The concrete portion of the skate park
in mid June 2022. Since Spires’ departure, chamber board president Nancy Nelson has served as the interim president.
FIRE CHIEF
The search for a new fire chief ended in early February when interim chief Gary Young was named the city’s permanent fire chief, succeeding Michael Neujahr, who resigned on Sept. 23. Neujahr had served as fire chief for eight years. Young, who had been deputy fire chief before taking over as interim chief, has been with the city for over 33 years.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Contractors hired by Texas Department of Transportation completed the Business Highway 190
is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023. Bid opening for the Hostess House upgrade and renovation will be in late February and renovations are expected to be complete by September. In 2023, the city of Lampasas will continue to prioritize projects, programs and relationships that foster economic growth in Lampasas. The Parks and Recreation Board and Capital Improvements Projects Committee continue to review a possible disc golf course, mountain bike trails and trail routes along the creek and through downtown. Additionally, the Lampasas Economic Development Corporation will continue to work with the Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions, Lampasas Independent School District and the Lampasas Career and Technical Education program. The EDC works to strengthen the relationship among the organizations, including the public-private partnership between LISD and the Creating Badger Builders initiative where students that are a part of the CTE program will get real-world experience while receiving skilled direction from the teacher and CBB building trade representatives.
Improvement Project in early 2023. The project created/widened the sidewalk on the south side of Business Highway 190, created a median for a nearly 1.2-mile stretch of the road and involved resurfacing and repainting of the lanes in both directions. Work also continues on the project that will create an overpass for traffic on Farm-to-Market Road 116 to go over traffic at the intersection of State Highway 9. TxDOT officials have said the project is intended to reduce the risk of accidents that have occurred there. Work on the project has gone faster than predicted. City Manager Ryan Haverlah has told elected officials multiple times that the project is about a year ahead of schedule.
FORT HOOD New Fort Hood museum on track to fully open this fall BY DAVID A. BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
FORT HOOD — Officials expect the National Mounted Warrior Museum to open in fall of 2023, but the foundation working on completing the museum is still looking for the donations needed to complete the additional phases of the construction. Retired Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, the president and CEO of the National Mounted Warfare Foundation, said in an email that despite the first phase being complete, there was much more work to be done. “As 2022 comes to a close, I want to thank you for supporting the National Mounted Warfare Foundation on behalf of the foundation’s board of directors and staff,” he said in the mass email to museum supporters in December. “You should be proud of what your gifts have allowed us to accomplish over the past few years — not many organizations can say they built a world-class museum during the pandemic! Your support has been crucial to our success.” Despite the accomplishments of 2022, Funk said he and the foundation are focused on what needs to be done in the future. “This includes conducting a grand opening of the National Mounted Warrior Museum in the fall of 2023 and developing future expansions of the Museum,” he said. An exact date for the fall grand opening has not been set yet, as the exhibits that will fill the museum are being built remotely with no exact times for delivery yet, said Steven Draper, museum director. While the museum still hosts private tours right now and plans for some sneak previews throughout 2023, the museum will not be
The National Mounted Warrior Museum at Fort Hood will be fully open by this fall.
open to the public until after the grand opening. “We expect the installation of exhibits in the Museum to begin the last week of June 2023 and be complete by the end of September 2023,” the foundation said in a separate “Season’s Greetings” email. “We are looking at holding the Museum’s grand opening the week before Veterans Day 2023.” The foundation will conduct its annual Homecoming for Heroes gala, an annual fundraiser, on April 22.” In 2020, the $38 million project broke ground at Fort Hood after being in planning for 10 years; the phase one rotunda was completed in late 2021. The new museum is expected to grow in size in subsequent phases, officials
said. It is being built outside Fort Hood’s security fence, meaning visitors will not have go through a Fort Hood gate to get to it — an important point for tourists who want to avoid the hassle of getting through Fort Hood’s guarded gates. Touted as tourism draw for the Killeen-Fort Hood area, officials expect the museum to bring in an average of 377,000 visitors per year, most of them who live outside the area. No gift is too big or small, and all gifts are appreciated, Funk said. Donations can be made at nmwfoundation.org/Donate, by sending a check to the National Mounted Warfare Foundation, 207 S. 3rd Street, Suite 100, Copperas Cove, Texas 76522, or by phone at 254-213-5014. KDHNEWS.COM I 49
The Great Place looks ahead to 2023 after busy year BY DAVID A. BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Calendar year 2022 was a busy one for the troopers of Fort Hood, with deployments, restructuring and more to mark the year. Here are some of the events that impacted “The Great Place” throughout the year.
PEOPLE FIRST
Fort Hood leadership launched its Operation People First campaign in 2020 and the campaign took off in 2021, but 2022 saw the grand opening of the People First Center in May. “Operation People First” is a campaign that prioritizes a backto-basics, people-first approach to leadership and focuses on the fundamentals of engaged personal leadership to build trust with soldiers, families, civilians and military communities. The corps-wide program has three primary tenets: Getting to know soldiers, leaders taking action to ensure trust and discipline is maintained, and leaders holding leaders accountable if standards are not met. It is a year-long campaign designed to produce enduring positive cultural change across the force. The program has already addressed some of the recommendations from the review committee and is also implementing the additional recommendations. The People First Center’s forward-
Gen. Andrew P. Poppas talks with Lt. Gen Sean Bernabe as he hands over their flags to illustrate the relinquishing of command of III Corps and Fort Hood from Lt. Gen. Robert P. White.
looking approach to leader and soldier development revolves around preventing harmful behaviors before they happen. Experts in the fields of family advocacy, sexual harassment and assault prevention, equal opportunity, resiliency, substance abuse, suicide, and spiritual readiness are all housed at the center, with training focused on immersion.
RENAMING FORT HOOD
The process for renaming Fort Hood began in 2020 as the commission to rename the post held in-person meetings on post. The commission held closeddoor meetings, one of which included a contingent of members of the community.
Troopers from 1st Battalion 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, maneuver through a training area during Table XII Gunnery at Fort Hood in January.
50 | PROGRESS 2023
In October 2022, the Department of Defense announced that Fort Hood, America’s largest active-duty armored military post, will be renamed to pay homage to four-star Hispanic general Richard Cavazos instead of its original namesake, a Confederate general. Federal officials have until Jan. 1, 2024, to finalize the transition. The change is part of a broader movement from the naming commission to have the DOD rename 1,111 installations and facilities. Eight other military bases that derive their names from Confederate figures are also slated to have their names changed. Renaming will include not only the names of Army forts named after Confederates, but buildings, streets and anything else such as training areas named after Confederate soldiers or the Confederacy. Only individual grave markers are to be left alone. Congress forced Fort Hood, and all other installations named after Confederate leaders or soldiers, to change their names when both chambers overrode a veto by President Donald Trump and passed the National Defense Authorization Act. The House overrode Trump’s veto on Dec. 28, 2020, and the Senate overrode it Jan. 1, 2021.
DEPLOYMENTS
Roughly 8,900 troops from Fort Hood are deployed around the world. The
majority of those deployed are with the 1st Cavalry Division, with roughly 4,000 soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and another 4,000 from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team currently in Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The troops are primarily stationed in Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Romania. Additional troops from other units on Fort Hood are deployed in smaller numbers around the world. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team is in the process of relieving the 3rd Brigade, which should be fully redeployed by March.
COVID-19 restrictions were lifted throughout 2022. The biggest change during the year, however, came from the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which no longer required troops to get the COVID vaccination if they have objections to it.
stopped by Fort Hood throughout 2022. The area’s two new civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army toured Fort Hood barracks in different stages of their renovation near the end of 2022. Retired Maj. Gen. Kendall Cox and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Edgar Fuentes were selected by the Secretary of the Army to take over the reins from Jean Shine, a long-time advocate for Fort Hood. In August, Gen. Andrew Poppas, U.S. Army Forces Command’s commanding general, took command, and one of his first initiatives was to visit Fort Hood to meet soldiers and tour the installation. Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo made his first visit in his new position to this sprawling Central Texas post July 12 to see firsthand how the III Armored Corps is putting people first. Camarillo started his visit to Fort Hood by getting a detailed brief on the installation from Lt. Gen. Pat White, the corps’ commanding general at the time.
VISITORS
BIG BIRTHDAYS
COVID-19
A number of high-profile visitors
Fort Hood marked a big milestone in
2022, celebrating its 80th birthday. The Army post officially opened Sept. 18, 1942, as a tank destroyer training site; 80 years later, the sprawling post is home to approximately 36,000 troops.
MUSEUM
The National Mounted Warfare Foundation completed the first phase of construction for the National Mounted Warrior Museum at Fort Hood in late 2021. A soft opening for the new 28,700-square-foot museum occurred in late spring 2022 and the grand opening is expected to be in late fall 2023 after interior displays are in place. Many of the contracts to build the displays were completed throughout 2022. The new museum is expected to grow in size in subsequent phases. It was built outside Fort Hood’s security fence so that visitors will not have go through a Fort Hood gate to reach it. Touted as a tourism draw for the Killeen-Fort Hood area, officials expect the museum to bring in an average of 377,000 visitors per year, most of them being people who live outside the area. KDHNEWS.COM I 51
Major units saw changes, deployments in 2022 BY DAVID A. BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
The III Corps and Fort Hood headquarters, then led by Lt. Gen. Robert “Pat” White, kicked off 2022 with the opening of the first Veterans of Foreign Wars post on an active-duty installation in the United States. The post is named after former Command Sgt. Maj. A.C. Cotton, the first Black command sergeant major of the 1st Cavalry Division. The CSM A.C. Cotton VFW Post 12209 is in the Phantom Warrior Center, Building 194 on 37th Street.
III CORPS
In May, III Corps hosted wounded warriors cycling through the area on a 500-mile bicycle ride from San Antonio to Fort Worth. The ride was organized by Project Hero, a groundbreaking national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and first responders affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery, and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency. In May, the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood “People First Center” officially opened its doors during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The center is a “leadership laboratory” according to the center’s developers, and it is designed to reinforce elements of a healthy organizational culture. The People First Center’s forwardlooking approach to leader and soldier development revolves around preventing harmful behaviors before they happen. Experts in the fields of family advocacy, sexual harassment and assault prevention, equal opportunity, resiliency, substance abuse, suicide, and spiritual readiness, are all housed at the center with training focused on immersion. In October, White handed over command of III Corps and Fort Hood to Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe during a ceremony overseen by Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command.
52 | PROGRESS 2023
1ST CAVALRY DIVISION
Throughout 2022, the 1st Cavalry Division, led by the command team of Maj. Gen. John B. Richardson IV and Command Sgt. Maj. Shade S. Munday, began the process of restructuring the division from small-unit combat tactics used during the War on Terror, to returning the division to the days of large-scale combat necessitated by the threats from peer or near-peer adversaries such as Russia and China. The division will be an armored division designed to breach enemy lines to prepare the battlefield and allow other divisions to advance, gaining a lot more engineers to give the ability to prepare that breach. The division will gain a full engineer brigade, and each of the armored combat brigades and the protection brigade will have an engineer battalion. An additional capability that will be added to the division is a bridging company, an engineer unit designed to move the division across rivers. They will also have a Division Cavalry dedicated as the eyes and ears of the division commander to better manuever the brigades to take advantage on the battlefield. Throughout the year, elements of the division deployed and returned across the globe, with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team deploying for a nine-month rotation to Europe for Operation Atlantic Resolve. The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade returned later in the year from its own nine-month rotation to Europe as the air support element for Operation Atlantic Resolve. The 3rd Cavalry Regiment is led by Col. Kevin Bradley, the 79th commander of the regiment. In 2022, the regiment underwent a major change in structure when it came under the operational control of the 1st Cavalry Division. Previously, the regiment fell under the auspices of III Corps. Throughout the year, the troopers were also tasked with new missions. Near the end of the year, the troopers were able to take part in testing new Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and
Nuclear protection garments. The Chemical, Biological Duty Uniform (CBDU) is still in the testing phase, but is projected to replace the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) and fielded in the next few years. Features of the new gear improve on the fitting, comfort, weight, temperature regulation and CBRN protection.
OPERATIONAL TEST COMMAND
The U.S. Army Operational Test Command is under the leadership of Col. George C. Hackler. As the Army’s only independent testing organization, it plans, conducts and reports rigorous operational tests, assessments and experiments in order to provide essential information for the acquisition and fielding of warfighting systems. The command has about 240 soldiers and employs about 340 Department of the Army civilians to maintain its operations and has directorates at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Bliss. One of the new pieces of equipment tested in 202w was the XM204 Top Attack Munition, a new type of explosive that will help engineers shape the battlefield. The XM204 Top Attack Munition is a hand-emplaced explosive that can detect enemy vehicles and shoot an explosive submunition into the air that fires a projectile capable of destroying vehicles in the blast area.
FIRST ARMY DIVISION WEST
First Army Division West is under the command of Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Edwards II. Division West conducts training readiness oversight and mobilization of designated active and reserve component forces in the western area of responsibility in order to provide trained and ready forces to regional combatant commanders, according to their official website. The soldiers of Division West train thousands of reserve and National Guard soldiers annually, certifying them to deploy around the globe.
HEALTH CARE Rehab center under construction in Harker Heights BY ERIN ESKEW HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Construction is nearly complete on a new residential rehabilitation facility in Harker Heights. The new construction at 750 W. Central Texas Expressway will provide residential rehabilitation care to individuals with a variety of disabling injuries or illnesses. From strokes and brain injuries, hip fractures and spinal injuries, to Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other medically complex conditions, ClearSky Rehabilitation Center will provide in-patient services for rehabilitation, according to Byron Landor, CEO for ClearSky. “The 40,000-square-foot facility will feature all private rooms, a rehabilitative gym with specialized equipment, a dining room with a dedicated chef and food services staff to meet patient’s nutritional needs, and an activity of daily living space where patients will receive therapies in rooms that emulate home conditions,” Landor said, adding that it will open this spring. “Our goal is to help our patients regain independence so they can return to their homes and perform daily activities as quickly as possible. But we know healing doesn’t necessarily stop after leaving the hospital, so after our patients leave, we’ll continue to work with them to coordinate access to continued care and resources they need.” Once complete, the hospital will have 30 beds and the capacity to treat about 650 patients a year. “Our services will be physician-led and include 24/7 rehabilitative nursing,” Landor said. “Physical, occupational,
ClearSky Rehabilitation Center will provide in-patient services when it opens in Harker Heights this spring. The 40,000-square-foot facility is going up at 750 W. Central Texas Expressway.
and speech therapy will be offered as appropriate to patients at a minimum of 15 hours a week. In addition, other specialized services like respiratory care, dietary services, and case management will also be provided as appropriate. Outpatient services will be discussed following the hospital opening.” With their specific rehabilitation services, ClearSky will complement current health care services offered in the greater metropolitan area, Landor said. “By providing a level of specialized rehabilitative care that’s currently not available, our highly trained team, specialized equipment, dedicated facility, and integrative approach set us apart from other programs,” Landor said. “Our average length of stay is 10 to 14 days.” Currently, if patients require high
caliber rehabilitative care, they must travel to other cities, providing extra hardship on their families, Landor said. Offering residential rehabilitation services here in Bell County will hopefully alleviate some of the financial and emotional stress they are going through, he said. Additionally, reports show that residential rehabilitation centers can produce better outcomes for patients. “A national study shows that patients treated at medical rehabilitation hospitals — like ClearSky Harker Heights — return home sooner, remain home longer, have fewer readmissions and ER visits, and live longer — versus other rehabilitation programs,” Landor said. “We’re truly honored to bring this level of care to the community and look forward to joining health care, business, and community leaders to become active members of Harker Heights.” KDHNEWS.COM I 53
AdventHealth offers compassionate care BY MARIANA RODRIGUEZ-ALARCON SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
At AdventHealth Central Texas, we are constantly evolving to provide you with the highest level of compassionate care and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. From the moment you walk through our doors, you can expect to be treated with respect as an individual based on your own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Like many others in health care, COVID-19 presented a domino effect of challenges. To say the last few years have been challenging for everyone is an understatement. But the future is bright. “Our teams in Killeen and Lampasas have overcome the many adversities the pandemic has presented. But the dedication to our patients has remained constant,” said Kevin Roberts, president and CEO of AdventHealth Central Texas and AdventHealth Rollins Brook. “Our teams did not lose hope and continue to look ahead to the future with the goal of expanding our focus.” AdventHealth Central Texas and our sister hospital in Lampasas, AdventHealth Rollins Brook have recently been recognized for several accolades. For two consecutive years, the community has voted our hospital in Killeen as “Best Hospital in Central Texas” by readers of the Killeen Daily Herald and our Maternal Child Health department also received a national recognition. In Killeen, our Maternal Child Health department is one of the country’s top hospitals for delivering babies. Whether you are a first-time mother or a fifth-time parent, AdventHealth is here to provide a safe, comforting, and healthy birthing process. “We are amazing at really individualizing our care,” said Nicole Allsopp, RN, MSN, director of nursing for Maternal Child Health at AdventHealth Central Texas. “We look at who you are, your excitement and fears, and what you want out of your birth experience, and then we mold our care to fit those things. It does not matter if you are a first-time mom or if you’ve done this plenty of times, each baby is a new experience, and we do everything we can to make it memorable.” AdventHealth Rollins brook is ranked among the nation’s top “Rural Hospital” nationally by The Leapfrog Group. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers widely acknowledged as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality. “Our team members in our small community take pride in caring for our patients. We are honored by this recognition
54 | PROGRESS 2023
The Toland family of Killeen stopped in for flu shots at the drivethru clinic at AdventHealth Central Texas in October.
and will only continue to provide quality and compassionate care to everyone who walks through our doors,” said Ashely Underwood, VP and CNO at AdventHealth Rollins Brook. To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, facilities must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety and achieve top performance in its category. “It is a privilege and blessing to receive recognition for all the hard work that goes into fulfilling our mission of serving you, your family, and our community,” Roberts said.
“Thank you for entrusting AdventHealth with your health care. No place works harder to make your outcome the best it can be with compassionate care close to home.” Learn more about our free classes, events, and programs by go to the AdventHealth website: www. adventhealthcentraltexas.com or follow on Facebook at AdventHealthCentralTexas. MARIANA RODRIGUEZ-ALARCON is a public relations specialist in the Marketing Department at AdventHealth Central Texas.
KDHNEWS.COM I 55
Baylor Scott & White marks 125 years at Temple hospital BY TIYA SEARCY SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
In 2022, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple celebrated 125 years of offering patient-centered care to Central Texans and those who travel from around the state to receive care. What started with a handshake and a clinic partnership has evolved into a nationally recognized hospital and the largest academic medical program at Baylor Scott & White Health. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center– Temple has 645 beds and is the only Level I trauma center between Austin and Dallas. The hospital continues to provide personalized, quality care, in addition to supporting medical education and research. Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center is the only pediatric medical center between Dallas and Austin. The 112-bed hospital provides the area’s only Level II pediatric trauma care. Additionally, the Level IV neonatal intensive care unit is the largest in the Central Texas area and provides care to 800-1,000 patients annually. In 2022, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple earned significant achievements from US News and World Report, American Heart Association and The Joint Commission, among many others, including being recognized as a 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospital and among the 15 Top Major Teaching Hospitals in the United States. Baylor Scott & White–Temple ranked No. 5 in the country and No. 1 in Texas, respectively. Additionally, the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program has recognized Baylor Scott & White–Temple for the fourth year in a row among the top 10% of Level 1 trauma centers in North America and the hospital received the maximum 5-star Overall Hospital Quality Rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a scoring achieved by just 13.8% of qualifying hospitals in the U.S. The cardiac surgery program at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center– Temple also earned a distinguished
56 | PROGRESS 2023
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Temple celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2022.
three-star rating, which is the highest possible from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple heart transplant program also reached a surgical milestone in 2022: 100 patients have received new hearts. As one of two heart transplant programs in the Baylor Scott & White system and the only heart transplant program between Austin and Dallas, the multidisciplinary heart transplant program has expanded quality, convenient and customized care to Central Texas residents. Additionally, the medical center’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement program, which offers a minimally invasive heart procedure option for patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis, also reached a milestone of more than 1,000 patients have undergone TAVR procedures since the program started. In April 2022, Baylor Scott & White Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center–Temple opened a new radiation oncology facility that benefits cancer patients. Located on the Temple
campus, the two-story, 7,800-square-foot facility is adjacent to the cancer center and allows patients to receive all cancer treatments in one location. The facility can treat up to 70 patients per day and features advanced radiation treatment equipment. The new facility includes two linear accelerators with one extra vault empty for future expansion, a high dose rate suite with a CT for HDR implant procedures, a CT simulator capable of scanning dual energy CT, 4DCT, partial auto-contouring of anatomical structures, and a procedure room and nine exam rooms. The building is situated on a centrally located courtyard to create a calm environment for patients and staff. In July 2022, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center converted two medical/surgical units to form a new Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. As a designated space for long-term monitoring, patients suffering from seizures and epileptic symptoms can now receive targeted treatment plants.
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center– Temple remains committed to putting patients and the community first by providing award-winning health and wellness services on the main hospital campus, the pediatric campus, a longterm care campus and through a network of area primary and specialty clinics, as well as pharmacies and outpatient centers. The Baylor College of Medicine regional medical school campus at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center– Temple will be welcoming its inaugural class later this year to continue the important work of training future medical leaders and providing quality clinical care for the people of Texas. Additionally, several departments at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple will receive an upgrade to equipment or space, including the Breast Imaging Center. For more information, go to BSWHealth.com TIYA SEARCY is a Media Relations Communications Specialist with Baylor Scott & White Health.
Darnall offers health care for military community BY RODNEY JACKSON CARL R. DARNALL ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
FORT HOOD — After the first baby rang in the New Year over the weekend in 2022, a huge traffic jam had already formed around the main gate, and the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. The increased throughput was largely due to beneficiaries lining up at the COVID-19 Respiratory Drive-thru clinic. It would be a scenario that challenged the hospital throughout 2022. Darnall met these new challenges head on and continued to provide the highest of quality care for its beneficiaries and support to the surrounding community. As the COVID-19 lifted, the hospital rolled into 2023 by establishing a weekly Walk-In Contraception Clinic at its Family Medicine Residency Clinic, starting Jan. 12. It is open each Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. Providers there offer counseling services for eligible female service members and military beneficiaries. No appointments are necessary.
MAIN MEDICAL CENTER INFORMATION
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center is the premiere Medical Treatment Facility in the Central Texas Region. Located on Fort Hood, Building 36065 Santa Fe Ave., the hospital system serves nearly 100,000 beneficiaries and consists of the main hospital with primary care and emergency services, inpatient medical and behavioral health services, and its seven Community-Based and Soldier Centered Medical Homes. On an average, the hospital sees 3,700 daily visitors, which equate to roughly 1 million encounters per year, including filling some 1.2 million prescriptions at its 13 pharmacies.
COMMUNITY BASED CARE
The Killeen Medical Home is located at 3404 Kaydence Court, off Elms Road near Stan Schlueter Loop in Killeen. The West Killeen Medical Home is located at 5200 Bunny Trail. The Harker Heights Medical Home is in the Market Heights shopping center at 201 E. Central Texas Expressway,
MORE INFORMATION
Main phone: 254-288-8000 Appointments: 254-288-8888 Pharmacy Call Center: 254-2888800 Website: darnall.tricare.mil
Suite 200 in Harker Heights. The Copperas Cove Medical Home Clinic is at 458 Town Square on West Business Highway 190, in Copperas Cove.
HOSPITAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Darnall’s robotics program continued to grow, adding a MAKO robot to the two Da Vinci robots to facilitate robotassisted surgeries. Darnall boasts second in robotic (Da Vinci) assisted surgeries in the Department of Defense. Robotic-assisted surgery is offered in surgical subspecialty clinics, as well as OB/GYN and Orthopedics. Robotic surgery has many benefits, like reducing opioid use, decreased recovery time and minimized convalescent leave. To help soldiers deal with fitnessrelated injuries, Darnall operates the SPARTA Clinic, which is open during morning physical training. It provides early evaluation and treatment for acute musculoskeletal injuries, helping soldiers recover faster and get back to the mission. The Fort Hood Intrepid Spirit Center offers care to those soldiers suffering from traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress and other psychological health conditions through a multidisciplinary approach in treating patients, including art and music therapy. The center is one component of the comprehensive behavioral health care system offered here at Darnall for service members and their families. The Fort Hood American Red Cross is located at 36000 Darnall Loop #1039, 254-287-0400. The American Red Cross Central & South Texas Region Fort Hood serves military members, veterans and their families. The Robertson Blood Donor Center is
located at 2250 W 761st Tank Battalion Ave. on Fort Hood. Volunteer donors, willing and able to contribute, are encouraged to visit. Walk-ins are welcome from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions regarding blood donations or for more information, call 254-285-5808.
HOSPITAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Darnall is home to a robust medical education program,providing graduatelevel education and training. Graduate Medical Education provides oversight and training to the Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine residency programs as well as the newly launched Psychiatry Residency Program. The hospital conducts several Phase II military occupational skills training courses for enlisted Army personnel. Annually in June, Darnall hosts one of the largest military medical training exercises called Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise. This year was the fifth iteration of the week-long exercise, graduating Army, Navy and Air Force emergency and family medicine residents, nurses, combat medics, surgeons and an array of other medical personnel. The training included 18 job skills performing 100% of their critical skill tasks to prepare residency graduates to serve in operational medical positions upon graduation. Over 2,000 service members from 70 units and representing over 60 medical specialties and multinational medical personnel participated in JEMX 2022.
KDHNEWS.COM I 57
Seton Harker Heights offers an array of medical services BY LUCY TAYLOR SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights provides the community with exemplary healthcare in both inpatient and outpatient setting. The medical center is affiliated with Wellstone Health Partners, a multi-specialty physician group that takes pride in caring for patients during each unique phase of life. Specialties include family medicine, ear nose and throat, OB/GYN and urology. SMCHH offers an array of services such as cardiology, emergency services; a Level IV trauma-designated emergency room; general surgery; orthopedic surgery, including total joint replacement; gastroenterology; a dedicated women’s center; diagnostic services and more.
AWARD-WINNING QUALITY CARE
SMCHH is Joint Commission Accredited and is also an Accredited Chest Pain Center and Advanced Primary Stroke Center. SMCHH strives to offer the newest methods and best practices in heart care. In 2022, the hospital earned the American College of Cardiology’s Chest Pain PCI Accreditation. U.S. News and World Reports also recognized SMCHH as a high performing hospital in heart failure in 2022. Additionally, for the 7th time in four years, SMCHH was awarded an ‘A’ grade from the Leapfrog Group’s fall 2022 Hospital Safety Guide. This national distinction was earned for protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Only about 30 percent of U.S. hospitals achieve this top grade. “The high standards for patient safety upheld by our caregivers and medical staff are a vital part of the clinical excellence we provide to our community,” said Patrick Swindle, SMCHH CEO. “This prestigious award validates our team’s continued commitment to serve in alignment with our mission—to provide quality healthcare in Christian love, service and dignity.” SMCHH is one of only 62 acute care
58 | PROGRESS 2023
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights has been serving the community for more than 10 years.
hospitals in Texas to receive a four-star rating from CMS. This overall rating reflects quality measures for common conditions that hospitals treat, such as heart attacks and pneumonia.
CONVENIENCE
Urgent care provides another important access point to healthcare for patients needing immediate care that does not rise to the level of a life-threatening emergency. SMCHH continues to partner with Freedom Urgent Care, offering two convenient locations. In addition to urgent care services, this collaboration provides a venue for occupational medicine for onthe-job injuries, vaccinations, physicals, routine medical testing and OSHAmandated exams for employees working in industrial environments. Freedom Urgent Care has clinics in Harker Heights and Killeen, and a third location is under construction.
TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
SMCHH celebrated a decade of providing exceptional healthcare in Bell County in June 2022. Over the past 10 years, SMCHH has positively affected thousands of lives while experiencing significant growth, now employing approximately 550 staff members. “From the doctors and nurses who deliver world-class care to our team members and volunteers who work tirelessly to create an outstanding experience for patients, there are many
who have contributed to building a strong legacy in just 10 short years,” Swindle said. “We have had the honor of caring for over 400,000 patients in our ER and over 36,000 inpatients, performed more than 30,000 surgeries and delivered over 8,000 babies. This speaks to the impact SMCHH has had in our community.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT
In 2022, SMCHH paid approximately $8.5 million in state and local taxes, supporting schools, fire fighters, police, roads and other vital community services. SMCHH’s annual payroll totaled almost $36 million.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The SMCHH outpatient therapy program opened in 2016 in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA at the 54,000-square-foot wellness center in Harker Heights. The program offers patients expanded access to therapy services. The hospital also collaborates with the Greater Killeen Community Clinic by providing financial support to improve the health of at-risk populations in Bell County. GKCC offers patients a chronic care management program to treat diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma/COPD. To find a physician, go to setonharkerheights.net/find-a-provider. LUCY TAYLOR is director of Marketing at Seton Medical Center Harker Heights.
EDUCATION
Killeen High School underwent a major renovation to ensure the facility continues to meet the needs of students as the district continues to grow.
Killeen ISD focuses on employee retention, district expansion BY TAINA MAYA SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
As the Killeen Independent School District celebrates the completion of the final 2018 bond project, the renovation of Killeen High School, growth and employee retention continue to be on the forefront of the district’s mind. At just over 44,000 students, Killeen ISD is the 24th largest district in Texas and the 4th most diverse district in the state. The district has received numerous awards and recognitions for its academic programs, athletics, extracurricular activities. KISD has a strong commitment to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities and safe and supportive learning environments. In August, the district celebrated the opening of Chaparral High School while at the same time the district’s legacy campus, Killeen High School, was undergoing a major renovation of its own. The district worked to ensure both campuses were equitable and innovative in their design. Looking ahead, the Sheridan
Transportation Facility expansion project will be complete in May, allowing for 300 school buses to be housed in one area, streamlining routes and efficiency. The opening of the additional space flips the Main Transportation and Sheridan Transportation facility utilizations. The district’s newest campus, Dr. Jimmie Don Aycock Middle School, has broken ground and will house the district’s third middle school STEM campus. The campus will sit to the south of Chaparral High School and is set to open in the fall of 2024.
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Killeen ISD is also working proactively to retain its excellent employees and to attract new teachers and staff members. KISD is set to award approximately $2.5 million in incentive pay for top achieving teachers, with 57 teachers projected to receive more than $12,000 extra in their June paychecks from a new state program. The Texas Education Agency approved and accepted Killeen ISD’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designations. Of the 306 Killeen
ISD teachers that qualify, 24 will be nominated for a Master Designation, 122 for an Exemplary Designation, and 160 for a Recognized Designation. Once a teacher achieves a TIA designation, they will receive a cash award annually for five consecutive years. Killeen ISD is hosting a job fair on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Harker Heights High School from 9 a.m. to noon and is hiring all positions for the 20232024 school year.
CLIMATE & CULTURE
Following a student, parent and employee climate and culture survey in October, Killeen ISD has developed an action plan to address areas of improvement as identified by stakeholders. The full survey action plan can be found online, www.killeenisd. org/survey. The district plans to relaunch a community culture and climate survey in April as part of the continuous improvement plan. TAINA MAYA is chief director of communications and marketing for the Killeen Independent School District. KDHNEWS.COM I 59
Cove ISD expands facilities to meet growing population BY WENDY SLEDD SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Copperas Cove ISD continues to serve students’ educational needs in the 2022-2023 school year with exemplary academic instruction, continued upgrades on campuses and facilities, and extensive safety measures across the district. Copperas Cove ISD students showed continued improvement on the Texas Education Agency’s accountability rating with nearly half of the district’s campuses earning an “A” rating and the district receiving a high “B” with a score of 87. CCISD Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services Amanda Crawley said both students and teachers work hard throughout the year to master the content of the curriculum. “We have made strategic adjustments to our teaching since the pandemic and our students are outperforming their pre-pandemic scores. This is nothing short of outstanding,” Crawley said. “Teachers and paraprofessional staff are dedicated to teaching lesson content all year long so that when it is time for the STAAR test, it is just another day where our students demonstrate what they have learned.”
RENOVATIONS
A broken pipe caused flood damage at Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy immediately prior to the start of 2023, providing the opportunity to renovate some additional areas of the campus. Construction to expand the campuses of Martin Walker Elementary, Hettie Halstead Elementary, Williams/Ledger Elementary as well as Mae Stevens were completed in the fall of 2022. Drainage projects were also completed at Martin Walker Elementary and Copperas Cove High School. Construction continues on the new Career Technology Education building at CCHS. The building will house construction and manufacturing courses as well as welding, agriculture mechanics, and other CTE career pathways that are currently house in the main building of the high school.
60 | PROGRESS 2023
Copperas Cove ISD students work on lessons after school through CCISD’s Bulldawg Academy. Students attend four days a week, Monday through Thursday, with Friday being optional.
An HVAC upgrade takes place this spring at Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy, the CCISD Technology Building, and the upper building at Martin Walker Elementary School, which is also scheduled to receive a new roof. The cafeteria at Crossroads High School will also receive a new roof. CCISD has been very proactive in its approach to school safety. Though not all security measures can be shared to protect the integrity of the safety plan, secure vestibules are in place at all CCISD campuses. The result is a secure single point of entry for all guests that allows staff and students to remain protected. The district also conducts full safety
and security audits once every three years. This is not new to CCISD and audits were completed in the spring of 2022. The district chose to hire an outside auditing firm to ensure all areas of concern were discovered and reported. The auditor’s report was very complimentary of the district and in his summary, he said, “In my 18 years of doing this type of work, CCISD’s EOP (Emergency Operations Plan) is the best I have seen come out of a district.” Families moving into Copperas Cove or relocating to a new home in school district boundaries may enter their address on the CCISD website at https:// www.ccisd.com/273994_3 to determine which school their children will attend.
KDHNEWS.COM I 61
Central Texas College expands program offerings BY BRUCE VASBINDER SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Central Texas College has been providing higher educational opportunities to area residents for nearly 56 years. Since opening its doors to more than 2,000 students in 1967, CTC has evolved into a unique institution focusing on affordable, accessible education. The school’s diverse student population includes nearly 6,000 students per semester at its Killeen and Fort Hood campuses, nearly 18,000 students at sites across the globe and nearly 15,000 students taking classes online. More than 2,800 students worldwide graduated from CTC last year. CTC is the top college choice for graduating high school seniors in the area as more than 20 percent of local high school students come to CTC — one of the most affordable higher education options for students in central Texas. Local students can save nearly $15,000 in tuition and fees by completing an associate degree with CTC before moving on to a four-year university. With more than 100 associate degrees and certificates of completion available in many diverse fields, CTC prepares students for careers or to transfer to a four-year university. In fall 2023, CTC will add to its growing list of degree and certificate offerings with a new Associate of Arts degree in communication. It will be the only degree program of its kind offered within a 25-mile radius and will serve as a pathway towards a bachelor’s degree in communications offered by all major four-year universities in Texas. CTC’s paramedic program recently received national reaccreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions. It is one of 57 accredited paramedic programs in Texas. Nursing Schools Almanac recently named CTC as one of the top associate nursing degree programs in Texas based on student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination pass
62 | PROGRESS 2023
Central Texas College’s facilities director Mark Harmsen pitched an energy optimization project in October that aims to save the college more than $2 million on natural gas and electricity.
rate among first-time test-takers. Daimler Truck North America ranked the CTC Industrial Technology diesel program as the 19th best school program in the United States and Canada — up from the previous number 34 ranking. The company’s Get Ahead training program rated nearly 260 schools in North America this past year. The rankings also saw CTC improve from fifth last year to the fourth best diesel program in Texas among the state’s 22 participating schools. CTC offers quick career training programs which can help those looking to jump start or change careers. Shortterm credit certificates of completion and non-credit programs in a variety of areas are available in six career clusters: arts and humanities; construction, manufacturing and transportation; business and business technology; health care; public service; and science, technology, engineering and math. Many of the programs offer preparation for licensure, professional certifications and credentials which can be earned in one year or less. The certificate programs can also be applied to a respective associate degree program. CTC was recently ranked as one of the top 10 military online colleges in the United States by South Front Analysis Intelligence and the number one online community college in Texas by TexasOnlineColleges.com.
CTC now offers more than 400 classes and 60 degree and certificate programs which can be completed entirely online. As a 2022-23 top 10 Military Friendly® school, CTC continues to foster a strong relationship with Fort Hood. CTC was recently ranked as the seventh best two-year school in the country (and the only two-year school in Texas ranked in the top 10) for military veterans in the latest Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2022 rankings. CTC’s Continuing Education program expands each semester with new classes in a variety of areas including business, personal enrichment and career development. In addition to the Technicians of Tomorrow program, the department currently offers five other career training programs for faster entry into the workforce — Shifting Gears truck driving, Pharmacy Technician Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy and EKG Technician. A variety of exercise/fitness classes are also available along with information technology, arts, hobby and crafting classes. Moving forward, CTC looks to continue enhancing its alliances with the local school districts and the community through its’ dual credit programs, the Early College High School, STEM Academy and Early College program. Learn more at ctcd.edu.
UMHB a cornerstone of Belton community BY ASHLEY SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
2022 marked the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s 177th anniversary, carrying on its tradition as the oldest continuously operating college in the state. Enrollment at UMHB for the 2022-2023 academic year is at nearly 3,600 students, and student housing is at 90% capacity with 1,840 students living on campus. Over 90% of UMHB students receive some form of financial aid, and the university awarded more than $50 million in grants and scholarships last year. In UMHB’s spring 2022 graduating class, 403 confirmed graduates were awarded degrees, and in December 2022, an additional estimated 461 students received degrees. UMHB offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 60 undergraduate majors, 11 master’s degree programs, and two doctoral degrees and has introduced several new degrees and concentrations in 2022-2023. The new programs include an online Master of Public Health, a Bachelor in Social Data Analytics, and two new Bachelor of Christian Ministry concentrations: Community Care and Sports and Recreation Ministry. UMHB is also launching a fully online, affordable, self-paced Bachelor of Applied Studies in Worship Leadership this year. Two of UMHB’s academic programs received accreditation in 2022. The Strength and Conditioning Education Program (SCEP) within the exercise physiology major was the first in the country to receive accreditation from CASCE, and the engineering program is now accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The university competes in the American Southwest Conference of NCAA Division III and offers 16 sports. For the second time in its 24-year history, the Crusader football program won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2021. That same academic year, the university’s men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf teams won ASC championships. On campus, construction has begun for the MarekSmith Center for Teacher Preparation, a groundbreaking training facility to prepare general and special education majors. Innovative spaces will incorporate immersive, multisensory, and interactive equipment to enhance the overall learning experience. The building is expected to open in fall 2023. Founded in 1845, UMHB prepares students for lives of leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society. Academic excellence, personal attention, broadbased scholarship, and a Baptist vision for education have distinguished this Christ-centered learning community for more than 177 years. ASHLEY SMITH is director of Marketing and Public Relations at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. KDHNEWS.COM I 63
A&M-Central Texas expands learning opportunities BY KAREN CLOS SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Established in 2009, Texas A&M University-Central Texas continues to celebrate significant forward strides reflecting the relevance of its mission, its programs, and its commitment to community service. In 2021, A&M-Central Texas achieved designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, which it maintained in 2022. The designation is based on an undergraduate full-time enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic students, and a high overall percentage of students receiving need-based federal financial aid. It also offers eligibility for federal funding focused on expanding educational opportunities, including post-baccalaureate degrees, for Hispanic under-represented students and opens additional federal research funding streams dedicated to Minority Serving Institutions. A&M-Central Texas is currently in the design process to construct the state-funded Centralized Operational Reliability and Efficiency (CORE) facility to substantially improve longterm utility infrastructure reliability and efficiency. The facility will also include space for police department and emergency operations. Upon completion of the design and TAMUS Board of Regents approval, construction is slated to begin later in 2023 with anticipated completion in summer of 2025. In keeping with the university’s commitment to access and community service, notable projects continue to yield significant results. In partnership with the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, the University’s Division of Research, Economic Development, and Innovation continues to explore the feasibility of a Research Park. Additional successes include the implementation of Transfer Central, a program that engages students and offers a seamless transfer into their undergraduate programs and student support activities. Also related to student success, The Greater Texas Foundation
64 | PROGRESS 2023
A large number of community and business leaders listen to a presentation on the update of a university research park and innovative district, which will be called Forge at Texas A&M-Central Texas.
(GTF) awarded the University $1.56 million to benefit Early College High School students who transition to the university to complete their bachelor’s degrees. A&M-Central Texas is the only public “upper-level” university in Texas. It offers upper-division coursework leading to baccalaureate degrees and graduate coursework leading to master’s degrees. Students may select from 30 baccalaureate and 20 graduate degree programs, many of which are offered
completely online, and several of which have been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Intelligent.com, The Best Schools, College Factual, and Best Colleges. For the past six years, A&M-Central Texas has earned three biannual awards from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for their work encouraging and strengthening nonpartisan student voter participation in both state and national elections. Learn more at www.tamuct.edu.
RECREATION UIL realignment shakes up Killeen-area athletics BY CLAY WHITTINGTON HERALD CORRESPONDENT
In early February 2022, the University Interscholastic League released its biennial reclassification and realignment for schools across the state, and it completely changed the complexion of Killeen ISD athletics. After years of competing against one another, Killeen, Ellison, Shoemaker and Harker Heights high schools were ripped apart and placed in different districts as the opening of Chaparral High shifted enrollment numbers, forcing the UIL to react accordingly. Schools are divided into classifications and districts based on attendance and relative location to one another, and Killeen ISD programs were not on a level playing field any more, especially in football. Harker Heights was the lone campus to remain as a Class 6A program, ending any district rivalries with the city’s other schools for at least two years, while Killeen, Ellison and Shoemaker were placed in Class 5A, Division I. Chaparral debuted as a Class 5A, Division II program. In all sports other than football, Killeen, Ellison, Shoemaker and Chaparral share a district. Despite the changes, the Knights thrived on the gridiron behind a trio of NCAA Division I signees in running back Re’Shaun Sanford (Houston), Jaydon Chatman (Texas) and Etueni Ropati (Texas-San Antonio), who helped the team earn its first playoff victory in 20 years. Shoemaker also reached the postseason for Killeen ISD, and outside of the city, Belton won its first outright district title since 1999 and its first
Harker Heights’ Re’Shaun Sanford (6) avoids DeSoto’s Mario Buford (21) and other tacklers after running for a first down during a Class 6A-Division II regional final in December in Waco.
playoff victory since 2016. Prior to the realignment going into effect for the start of the 2022-23 school year, however, plenty of other milestones were reached across the area. Ellison boys basketball, which finished third in the district standings behind co-champions Harker Heights and Belton, advanced farther in the playoffs than any area team, reaching the third round for the fifth consecutive season as standout junior Jamyron Keller was named all-district most valuable player. As a senior, Keller committed to play at Oklahoma State, broke the school’s all-time scoring record and helped head coach Alberto Jones Jr. become the program’s all-time winningest coach, surpassing his mentor David Manley. On the softball diamond, standout sophomore pitcher Nevaeh Brown
and the Lady Knights earned the first district championship in Killeen ISD history en route to reaching the regional semifinals. Along the way, Harker Heights delivered multiple late-game rallies and improbable comebacks, including Brown’s walk-off grand slam in Game 3 of the first round. While the Lady Knights set a new school standard, Belton’s Ayanna Jones rewrote Texas’ record book. In her first appearance at the state track and field championships, the Lady Tigers’ senior cleared 21 feet, 3½ inches in the long jump, exceeding the previous state record set in 2001 by a quarter inch. The historic performance also provided the first gold medal at state in the history of Belton girls track and field. Unfortunately, Shoemaker senior sprinter Khamari Terrell did not receive an opportunity to earn a gold medal at the state meet. Terrell entered as the heavy favorite to win the 200-meter race with a qualifying time 0.35 seconds faster than anyone else in the field, but he suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the day as part of the Grey Wolves’ 800 relay team and could not compete. The scratch prevented Shoemaker from potentially winning its first state championship since 2013. Nothing was capable of stopping the Lady Grey Wolves from making history on the volleyball court, though. After winning just one district match during the previous season, Shoemaker earned the first playoff berth in the program’s existence. Equally impressive, senior outside hitter A’Niyah Harrison became the only all-district most valuable player in Lady Grey Wolves’ history after missing virtually all of her first three seasons due to injuries, including a torn ACL. KDHNEWS.COM I 65
UMHB athletes make history during 2022 season BY CLAY WHITTINGTON HERALD CORRESPONDENT
The University of Mary HardinBaylor delivered everything fans are accustomed to in 2022, but the Crusaders also provided plenty of firsts. Just like so many previous seasons, UMHB’s football team dominated during the fall despite having a new head coach for the only time in program history as Larry Harmon took over for retired Pete Fredenburg, who oversaw the team since its inception in 1998. The Crusaders finished the season with an overall record of 12-2 and won their 18th American Southwest Conference championship before advancing to the NCAA Division III semifinals for the eighth time. Senior return specialist K.J. Miller, senior defensive lineman Sante Parker Jr. and senior cornerback Titus Dunk were each placed on the Associated Press Division III All-America First Team following the campaign. The Crusaders also swept the conference titles in men’s and women’s soccer and golf. Led by senior Kristen Burdick, who was named ASC Defensive Player of the Year, UMHB women’s soccer team set a team record for wins in a season with 17 and went undefeated in the regular season en route to claiming the program’s first ASC championship. As a result, the Crusaders appeared in the postseason for just the second time. Their counterparts captured the program’s third conference title and reached the postseason for the fourth time while hosting a match for just the second time. On the links, Andrew Baucum’s individual ASC title helped the Crusaders earn the team title as well, while Sarah Kmiecik achieved the same accomplishment, winning both the individual and a share of the team conference championships. The golf program also announced the upcoming construction of an on-campus clubhouse and practice facility that is expected to be complete by the fall. The facility will include three holes and short-game practice areas.
66 | PROGRESS 2023
UMHB’s Addy Self (32) takes a shot while defended by McMurry’s Destiny Mathews during a game at the Mayborn Campus Center in January.
The Crusaders men’s basketball team also secured a conference championship, producing an overall record of 28-3 to go along with its third title. UMHB advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament semifinals for just the third time in school history, ending a playoff drought stretching back to 2013. Junior guard Josiah Johnson was named ASC Player of the Year after leading the conference with 25 points per game to go with 61 steals, which was second in the conference. UMHB’s women’s basketball team advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the third consecutive season after claiming the ASC’s regular-season title with a record of 18-1. Arieona Rosborough, a guard, was named conference freshman of the year and placed on the All-ASC First Team. On the heels of the success, longtime women’s basketball head coach Mark Morefield’s tenure with the program ended during his eighth season with the team after an incident involving volatile language and behavior occurred during a team practice in November. Former
UMHB head coach Kendra Foreman was elevated from an assistant to interim head coach. Additionally, the Crusaders’ women’s cross country team and softball team were each conference runners-up, and UMHB’s baseball team advanced to the championship of the ASC Blue Bracket after setting a program record with 25 wins. Senior first baseman Malek Bolin was named ASC Player of the Year, and teammate James McGlumphy, a pitcher, was named co-newcomer of the year. Furthermore, UMHB swept the Division III National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association awards with Kalyn Dujka receiving the honor of Most Outstanding Player. Other recognitions included Katelyn Kolodziejczyk, who was named Specialist of the Year, and Sarah Williamson, who was named Freshman of the Year. The Crusaders also introduced its beach volleyball program, which had a 9-6 record against Division III and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) opponents during its inaugural campaign.